What is Facebook Pixel?

Facebook Pixel (now called Meta Pixel) is a small piece of JavaScript code that you add to your BigCommerce store to track visitor actions. It allows you to:

Measure the effectiveness of your Facebook Ads
Track conversions from Facebook campaigns
Retarget website visitors with ads
Create lookalike audiences based on your customers
Optimize ad delivery to people likely to convert

Quick Stats: Stores with Facebook Pixel properly installed see 20-40% better ad performance and can reduce cost per acquisition by up to 30%.

Before You Start: Prerequisites

Before installing Facebook Pixel on BigCommerce, make sure you have:

A Facebook Business Manager Account - Create one here if you don't have one
A Facebook Pixel Created - Set up in Facebook Events Manager
Your Pixel ID - A 15-16 digit number (e.g., 1234567890123456)
BigCommerce Store Access - Admin access to your store control panel

How to Find Your Facebook Pixel ID

Go to Facebook Events Manager
Click on your Pixel name in the left sidebar
Click "Settings" in the left menu
Your Pixel ID appears at the top - copy this number

📸 Screenshot: Facebook Events Manager showing Pixel ID location

Three Methods to Install Facebook Pixel on BigCommerce

There are three main ways to install Facebook Pixel on BigCommerce. Choose the method that best fits your technical skill level and requirements:

Method	Difficulty	Time Required	Server-Side Tracking	Best For
1. Algoboost App	🟢 Easiest	5 minutes	✅ Yes (automatic)	Everyone
2. Script Manager	🟡 Moderate	15 minutes	❌ No (browser only)	Manual setup preference
3. Theme Files	🔴 Advanced	30+ minutes	❌ No (browser only)	Developers only

⚠️ Important: Why Server-Side Tracking Matters

Browser-only tracking (methods 2 & 3) misses 30-40% of conversions due to iOS 14+ privacy features and ad blockers. Server-side tracking (CAPI) is essential for accurate tracking in 2025. Method 1 (Algoboost) includes this automatically.

Method 1: Install Facebook Pixel Using Algoboost (Recommended)

This is the easiest and most complete method. Algoboost automatically installs both browser-side Pixel and server-side Conversions API tracking with event deduplication.

                ✅ Why This Method is Best
                No coding required - Point and click installation
5-minute setup - Fastest method by far
Complete tracking - Browser + Server side (CAPI) automatically
All events included - PageView, ViewContent, AddToCart, InitiateCheckout, Purchase
Event deduplication - Built-in to prevent double counting
FREE forever plan - Available for all stores
Automatic updates - Always compatible with latest Facebook API

            

Step 1

Install Algoboost from BigCommerce Marketplace

Log into your BigCommerce control panel
Navigate to Apps → Marketplace
Search for "Algoboost"
Click "Install"
Follow the authorization prompts to grant permissions

📸 Screenshot: BigCommerce Apps Marketplace showing Algoboost

Step 2

Connect Your Facebook Account

Open the Algoboost app from your BigCommerce dashboard
Click "Connect Facebook" button
Log in with your Facebook account (the one with Business Manager access)
Grant the requested permissions when prompted

📸 Screenshot: Algoboost Facebook connection screen

Step 3

Select Your Facebook Pixel

After connecting, you'll see a dropdown of your available Pixels
Select the Pixel you want to use for this store
Click "Save Configuration"
Algoboost automatically installs both Pixel and CAPI tracking

Step 4

Test Your Installation

Go to Facebook Events Manager
Click "Test Events" in the left menu
Enter your store URL and click "Open Website"
Navigate: Homepage → Product → Add to Cart → Checkout
Check Test Events panel - you should see both Browser and Server events

                Success indicators:
                ✅ Green "Server" badges next to events = CAPI working
✅ Blue "Browser" badges = Pixel working
✅ Same event appears once (not duplicated) = Deduplication working

            

Ready to Install Facebook Pixel the Easy Way?

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Method 2: Install Facebook Pixel Using Script Manager

This method uses BigCommerce's built-in Script Manager to add the Pixel code. It's manual but doesn't require theme editing.

✅ Pros

No theme file editing
Works across theme updates
Can manage multiple scripts

❌ Cons

Browser-side only (no CAPI)
Misses 30-40% of conversions
Manual event setup required
No automatic deduplication

Step 1: Get Your Pixel Base Code

Go to Facebook Events Manager → Your Pixel → Settings
Click "Install Pixel"
Choose "Manually Install the Code"
Copy the base pixel code (looks like this):

<!-- Facebook Pixel Code -->
<script>
  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';
  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',
  'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js');

  fbq('init', 'YOUR_PIXEL_ID');
  fbq('track', 'PageView');
</script>
<noscript>
  <img height="1" width="1" style="display:none"
       src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=YOUR_PIXEL_ID&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>
</noscript>
<!-- End Facebook Pixel Code -->
            

Step 2: Add Base Code via Script Manager

In BigCommerce control panel, go to Storefront → Script Manager
Click "Create a Script"
Configure:
- Name: Facebook Pixel Base Code
- Description: Facebook Pixel initialization
- Placement: Head
- Location: All Pages
- Script category: Essential
- Script type: Script
Paste your pixel code (replace YOUR_PIXEL_ID with your actual ID)
Click "Save"

📸 Screenshot: BigCommerce Script Manager configuration screen

Step 3: Add ViewContent Event (Product Pages)

Create another script for product page tracking:

Click "Create a Script" again
Configure:
- Name: Facebook Pixel - ViewContent
- Placement: Footer
- Location: Product Pages
Add this code:

<script>
  fbq('track', 'ViewContent', {
    content_ids: ['{{product.sku}}'],
    content_type: 'product',
    content_name: '{{product.title}}',
    value: {{product.price}},
    currency: '{{currency_code}}'
  });
</script>
            

Step 4: Add Purchase Event (Order Confirmation)

Create another script
Configure:
- Name: Facebook Pixel - Purchase
- Placement: Footer
- Location: Order Confirmation
Add this code:

<script>
  fbq('track', 'Purchase', {
    value: {{order.total}},
    currency: '{{currency_code}}',
    content_type: 'product',
    content_ids: [{{#each order.products}}'{{sku}}'{{#unless @last}},{{/unless}}{{/each}}],
    num_items: {{order.items_count}}
  });
</script>
            

⚠️ Limitations of Script Manager Method

Only tracks browser-side events (misses iOS 14+ users)
No server-side Conversions API tracking
AddToCart and InitiateCheckout events harder to implement
No event deduplication (if adding CAPI later)
Conversion tracking incomplete (30-40% data loss)

Recommendation: Use Algoboost instead for complete tracking with both Pixel and CAPI.

Method 3: Install Facebook Pixel by Editing Theme Files

This method involves directly editing your BigCommerce theme files. Only recommended for developers comfortable with Handlebars templating and JavaScript.

⚠️ Before You Edit Theme Files

Make a backup of your theme first
Download theme files to your computer
Test on staging environment if possible
Know how to revert if something breaks

Step 1: Access Theme Files

Go to Storefront → Themes
Find your active theme
Click Advanced → Edit Theme Files

Step 2: Add Base Code to Header

Navigate to templates/layout/base.html
Find the </head> closing tag
Paste your Facebook Pixel base code just before </head>
Click "Save & Apply File"

Step 3: Add ViewContent to Product Template

Open templates/pages/product.html
Add this code at the bottom:

{{#partial "page"}}
    <!-- existing product page code -->
{{/partial}}

{{#partial "page_scripts"}}
    <script>
        fbq('track', 'ViewContent', {
            content_ids: ['{{product.sku}}'],
            content_type: 'product',
            content_name: '{{product.title}}',
            value: {{product.price}},
            currency: '{{currency.code}}'
        });
    </script>
{{/partial}}
            

Step 4: Add AddToCart Event

This requires JavaScript to listen for add to cart clicks:

<script>
  // Listen for add to cart events
  document.addEventListener('click', function(e) {
    if (e.target.matches('[data-event-type="product-click"]') ||
        e.target.matches('.add-to-cart')) {

      fbq('track', 'AddToCart', {
        content_ids: ['{{product.sku}}'],
        content_type: 'product',
        value: {{product.price}},
        currency: '{{currency.code}}'
      });
    }
  });
</script>
            

Step 5: Add Purchase Event

Open templates/pages/order-confirmation.html
Add purchase tracking:

{{#partial "page"}}
    <!-- existing order confirmation code -->
{{/partial}}

{{#partial "page_scripts"}}
    <script>
        fbq('track', 'Purchase', {
            value: {{checkout.order.total_inc_tax}},
            currency: '{{currency.code}}',
            content_type: 'product',
            content_ids: [
                {{#each checkout.order.line_items.physical_items}}
                    '{{sku}}'{{#unless @last}},{{/unless}}
                {{/each}}
            ],
            num_items: {{checkout.order.line_items.physical_items.length}}
        });
    </script>
{{/partial}}
            

⚠️ Why This Method is Not Recommended

Time-consuming: 1-2 hours minimum for complete setup
Error-prone: Easy to break theme with typos
No CAPI: Still missing server-side tracking (30-40% data loss)
Maintenance burden: Must update manually when Facebook changes API
Theme updates: Changes lost when theme is updated
No deduplication: If adding CAPI later, risk double-counting

Better option: Use Algoboost for 5-minute setup with complete tracking and automatic updates.

Testing Your Facebook Pixel Installation

Regardless of which installation method you used, you MUST test to confirm tracking works correctly.

Using Facebook's Test Events Tool

Go to Facebook Events Manager
Select your Pixel
Click "Test Events" in the left menu
Enter your store URL in the test browser
Click "Open Website"

Test These Actions

Perform these actions on your store and verify events appear in Test Events:

Action	Expected Event	What to Check
Visit homepage	PageView	Event fires immediately
Click on product	ViewContent	Correct product SKU and price
Add item to cart	AddToCart	Correct product and value
Go to checkout	InitiateCheckout	Cart total value correct
Complete purchase	Purchase	Order total and products correct

Check for Server-Side Events

If you used Algoboost (Method 1), you should see green "Server" badges next to events in addition to blue "Browser" badges. This indicates both Pixel and Conversions API are working.

✅ What Good Tracking Looks Like

In Test Events, you should see:

Events appear within 1-2 seconds of action
Both Browser and Server badges (if using CAPI)
Correct parameter values (prices, SKUs, currency)
No duplicate events (deduplication working)
All 5 core events: PageView, ViewContent, AddToCart, InitiateCheckout, Purchase

Common Facebook Pixel Installation Problems

Problem 1: Events Not Showing in Test Events

Causes:

Ad blocker enabled in browser
Pixel code not installed correctly
Wrong Pixel ID used
JavaScript errors on page

Solutions:

Test in incognito/private browsing mode
Disable ad blockers and privacy extensions
Check browser console for JavaScript errors (F12)
Verify Pixel ID matches Events Manager
Use Chrome extension "Facebook Pixel Helper" to debug

Problem 2: PageView Works But Purchase Doesn't

Cause: Purchase event not installed on order confirmation page

Solution:

Verify Purchase tracking code is on order confirmation page
Complete a real test purchase to trigger the page
Check that order data variables are populated correctly

Problem 3: Events Appear Twice (Duplicates)

Cause: Pixel installed multiple times or missing deduplication

Solution:

Check for duplicate pixel code in theme and Script Manager
Remove old installations before adding new one
If using Pixel + CAPI, ensure event IDs match for deduplication
Use Algoboost which handles deduplication automatically

Problem 4: No Server Events (Only Browser Events)

Cause: No Conversions API (CAPI) implementation

Impact: Missing 30-40% of conversions from iOS 14+ users

Solution:

Switch to Algoboost for automatic CAPI implementation
Or manually implement CAPI with webhooks (complex, not recommended)

After Installation: Next Steps

Once Facebook Pixel is installed and tested, follow these steps:

1. Configure Events in Facebook

Go to Events Manager → Your Pixel → Settings
Under "Event Setup Tool", verify all events are detected
Set "Purchase" as your primary conversion event

2. Create Custom Conversions

Set up custom conversions for specific actions:

Newsletter signups
High-value page visits (pricing page, key products)
Account registrations
Wishlist additions

3. Build Your Audiences

Create retargeting audiences based on pixel data:

Website Visitors - All visitors in last 30 days
Product Viewers - People who viewed specific products
Cart Abandoners - Added to cart but didn't purchase
Past Purchasers - Customers for upselling/cross-selling

4. Create Lookalike Audiences

Let Facebook find people similar to your best customers:

Start with 1% lookalike of purchasers
Scale to 2-3% as you increase budget
Create separate lookalikes for high-value customers

5. Launch Your First Campaign

With pixel tracking in place, you can now:

Run conversion campaigns optimized for purchases
Use "Purchase" as optimization event
Set up proper attribution windows
Track ROAS accurately
Scale based on real conversion data

Want the Complete Tracking Solution?

Algoboost gives you Facebook Pixel + Conversions API in 5 minutes. Track every conversion accurately, scale your ads with confidence, and stop leaving money on the table.

View all integrations | User guide | Contact support

Install Algoboost Free →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Facebook Pixel if I'm not running ads?

Yes! Even if you're not running ads yet, install the pixel now. It takes 2-4 weeks to gather enough data for effective campaigns. By installing now, you'll have valuable audience data ready when you do start advertising.

Can I use multiple pixels on one store?

Technically yes, but it's not recommended. Use one pixel per store for simplest management. If you need separate tracking for different ad accounts, use Facebook's "Aggregated Event Measurement" feature instead.

Will Facebook Pixel slow down my store?

Minimal impact. The pixel loads asynchronously and adds less than 50KB. Properly implemented (like with Algoboost), there's no noticeable performance impact.

What's the difference between Facebook Pixel and Conversions API?

Facebook Pixel = Browser-side tracking (JavaScript in visitor's browser)
Conversions API = Server-side tracking (direct server-to-Facebook communication)

You need BOTH for complete tracking in 2025. Pixel catches most users, CAPI catches iOS 14+ opt-outs and ad blocker users.

How long does it take for pixel data to show in Facebook?

Test Events show immediately (1-2 seconds). Aggregated data in Events Manager appears within 15-30 minutes. Full attribution data can take 24-48 hours to stabilize.

Conclusion

Installing Facebook Pixel on BigCommerce is essential for any store running Facebook Ads. While you have three installation methods to choose from, Algoboost offers the fastest, most complete solution with both Pixel and Conversions API tracking included automatically.

                Installation Method Comparison: Final Verdict
                Algoboost App: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best for everyone - 5-minute setup, complete tracking, FREE
Script Manager: ⭐⭐⭐ Good for manual preference, but missing server-side tracking
Theme Files: ⭐⭐ Only for developers, time-consuming, no CAPI

            

Don't let poor tracking hold back your advertising. With proper installation, you'll have the data you need to scale profitable Facebook Ad campaigns.

Related Resources

Continue your BigCommerce Facebook marketing journey with these comprehensive guides:

BigCommerce Facebook Pixel: Complete Installation & Setup Guide 2025 - Comprehensive pixel implementation guide
BigCommerce Server Side Tracking: Complete CAPI Implementation Guide 2025 - Implement server-side tracking
BigCommerce Facebook Ads Tracking: Complete Setup Guide 2025 - Master Facebook ad tracking
Meta Conversions API for BigCommerce: Complete Implementation Guide - Technical CAPI setup
iOS 14+ Tracking Solution for BigCommerce - Overcome Apple's privacy restrictions
View All Features - Explore Algoboost's complete feature set
Installation Guide - Step-by-step setup instructions

How to Install Facebook Pixel on BigCommerce: Step-by-Step Guide 2025

What is Facebook Pixel?

Before You Start: Prerequisites

How to Find Your Facebook Pixel ID

Three Methods to Install Facebook Pixel on BigCommerce

⚠️ Important: Why Server-Side Tracking Matters

Method 1: Install Facebook Pixel Using Algoboost (Recommended)

✅ Why This Method is Best

Install Algoboost from BigCommerce Marketplace

Connect Your Facebook Account

Select Your Facebook Pixel

Test Your Installation

Ready to Install Facebook Pixel the Easy Way?

Method 2: Install Facebook Pixel Using Script Manager

✅ Pros

❌ Cons

Step 1: Get Your Pixel Base Code

Step 2: Add Base Code via Script Manager

Step 3: Add ViewContent Event (Product Pages)

Step 4: Add Purchase Event (Order Confirmation)

⚠️ Limitations of Script Manager Method

Method 3: Install Facebook Pixel by Editing Theme Files

⚠️ Before You Edit Theme Files

Step 1: Access Theme Files

Step 2: Add Base Code to Header

Step 3: Add ViewContent to Product Template

Step 4: Add AddToCart Event

Step 5: Add Purchase Event

⚠️ Why This Method is Not Recommended

Testing Your Facebook Pixel Installation

Using Facebook's Test Events Tool

Test These Actions

Check for Server-Side Events

✅ What Good Tracking Looks Like

Common Facebook Pixel Installation Problems

Problem 1: Events Not Showing in Test Events

Problem 2: PageView Works But Purchase Doesn't

Problem 3: Events Appear Twice (Duplicates)

Problem 4: No Server Events (Only Browser Events)

After Installation: Next Steps

1. Configure Events in Facebook

2. Create Custom Conversions

3. Build Your Audiences

4. Create Lookalike Audiences

5. Launch Your First Campaign

Want the Complete Tracking Solution?

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Facebook Pixel if I'm not running ads?

Can I use multiple pixels on one store?

Will Facebook Pixel slow down my store?

What's the difference between Facebook Pixel and Conversions API?

How long does it take for pixel data to show in Facebook?

Conclusion

Installation Method Comparison: Final Verdict

Related Resources