Ad Platforms Attribution
Understand why conversions appear in AnyTrack before they show in Google Ads, Facebook Ads, TikTok Ads, or Google Analytics 4. Learn the standard attribution delays for each platform and how to troubleshoot reporting discrepancies between AnyTrack and your ad accounts.
AnyTrack records each conversion in real time. AnyTrack sends it at once to the ad platforms and analytics tools that you connect. The Conversion API, which sends conversions to ad platforms, starts on the Starter plan. Each platform then processes and attributes the conversion on its own schedule. Conversions therefore show in your AnyTrack Dashboard before they show in the platform’s reports.
Data Freshness by Platform
Section titled “Data Freshness by Platform”| Platform | Reporting Delay | What Can Make It Longer |
|---|---|---|
| AnyTrack (conversions) | Real time | The conversion source must send the event first. Ad spend and campaign metrics follow a separate schedule (see below). |
| Google Analytics 4 | About 12 hours for daily data. Processing takes 24 to 48 hours. | Some data arrives up to 7 days late. Attribution credit for key events can change for up to 12 days. |
| Google Ads | Up to 3 hours with Last click. Up to 15 hours with other models, such as data-driven (the default). | Conversions imported from Google Analytics: up to 24 hours, sometimes more. |
| Facebook Ads | Up to 72 hours | iOS app promotion campaigns (SKAdNetwork): at least 24 hours |
| TikTok Ads | Up to 2 hours | iOS campaigns: 24 to 72 hours. Wait 72 hours after an iOS campaign launch. |
| Microsoft Ads | Up to 3 hours | New UET tags: up to 24 hours |
Google Analytics 4 Reporting Delays
Section titled “Google Analytics 4 Reporting Delays”AnyTrack sends conversions to Google Analytics 4 in real time through the Measurement Protocol. Google Analytics then processes the data on its own schedule:
- Daily data: For standard properties, Google Analytics makes daily data available in about 12 hours.
- Processing: Processing takes 24 to 48 hours. The numbers in your reports can change during that time.
- Late data: Some data arrives up to 7 days after the event.
- Attribution credit: Google Analytics can change the attribution credit of a key event for up to 12 days after the key event.
Google publishes two figures for credit changes. “Get started with attribution” says conversions can be reattributed for up to 7 days. “Data freshness” says attribution credit for key events can change for up to 12 days. Wait 12 days before you treat GA4 attribution numbers as final.
To see events as they arrive, use the Realtime report or DebugView in Google Analytics 4.
Sources: Data freshness and Get started with attribution.
Google Ads Attribution Delays
Section titled “Google Ads Attribution Delays”In Google Ads, account statistics (clicks, conversions, impressions) refresh hourly, so these metrics in Google Ads are typically no more than 1 hour behind. This Google Ads schedule is separate from the AnyTrack import of campaign metrics. Conversions using “Last click” attribution are ready within 3 hours; conversions using other attribution models take up to 15 hours.
Some metrics still follow a daily schedule: non-last-click conversions become available at 3 p.m., and reach metrics by 11 a.m. the next day. Conversions imported from Google Analytics 4 (GA4) are ready within 12 hours for “Last click” attribution, or within 24 hours for other attribution models. Google can also update reporting metrics one or more days after the event, so conversions imported from GA4 can take more than 24 hours.
The “Last click” figures apply only to conversion actions that use the Last click model. Data-driven is the default attribution model for most conversion actions in Google Ads, so most accounts see the 15-hour delay. Learn about Google Ads attribution models.
GBRAID and WBRAID Conversions (iOS Traffic)
Section titled “GBRAID and WBRAID Conversions (iOS Traffic)”GBRAID and WBRAID are the click identifiers that Google Ads uses for iOS traffic when a GCLID is not available. AnyTrack reads all three Google click identifiers from the landing page URL.
Learn more about Google Ads data freshness.
Facebook Ads Attribution Delays
Section titled “Facebook Ads Attribution Delays”On the Starter plan and above, AnyTrack sends conversions to Facebook Ads through the Conversion API in real time. Meta Events Manager shows each event when Meta receives it. Ads Manager shows a conversion only after Meta attributes it to an ad. Attribution can take up to 72 hours. Wait 72 hours before you compare Ads Manager with AnyTrack.
For iOS 14+ app promotion campaigns, Apple’s SKAdNetwork reports conversions to Meta with a delay of at least 24 hours. SKAdNetwork 4.0 postbacks arrive across a range of delays. SKAdNetwork applies to app promotion campaigns only.
Learn more about SKAdNetwork reporting in Meta Ads Manager.
TikTok Ads Attribution Delays
Section titled “TikTok Ads Attribution Delays”AnyTrack sends conversions to TikTok Ads via the Conversion API in real time. TikTok commits to processing events within 2 hours in Ads Manager. New tracking implementations may take up to 24 hours before activity appears in TikTok Ads Manager.
For iOS campaigns, wait at least 72 hours after launch before evaluating attribution data. TikTok’s Events Manager is not real-time, so verify event delivery using TikTok’s Test Events tool instead.
Learn more about TikTok Ads attribution.
Microsoft Ads Attribution Delays
Section titled “Microsoft Ads Attribution Delays”Microsoft Ads processes clicks within 2 hours and conversions within 3 hours. New UET (Universal Event Tracking) tags require up to 24 hours for initial setup. AnyTrack imports Microsoft Ads campaign metrics on a schedule. Amount Spent, Impressions, Clicks, Attributed Results, and Attributed Revenue in the Campaign Report can lag the Microsoft Advertising reports. AnyTrack does not guarantee a fixed delay for this import.
Invalid traffic adjustments may take up to one week to reflect in reports. Platform incidents have historically caused delays of up to 33 hours.
How AnyTrack Imports Ad Spend and Campaign Metrics
Section titled “How AnyTrack Imports Ad Spend and Campaign Metrics”AnyTrack uses two separate data paths:
- Conversions: AnyTrack records each conversion in real time, when the conversion source sends the event.
- Ad spend and campaign metrics: AnyTrack imports Amount Spent, Impressions, and Clicks from the ad platform reports on a schedule. CPC and CTR use these imported metrics, so CPC and CTR are not real time.
The import schedule depends on your account. AnyTrack does not guarantee that new spend or campaign metrics show within one hour, or after the next import. The ad platform report and the processing in AnyTrack can add more time.
Refreshing the Campaign Report rereads the data that AnyTrack already stored. A refresh does not start a new import. For Google Ads, the Reload button in the Tracking Pixels setup loads your conversion goals for Event Mapping. Reload does not import spend or campaign metrics.
Why AnyTrack Shows Data Before Ad Platforms
Section titled “Why AnyTrack Shows Data Before Ad Platforms”AnyTrack processes conversion events as they happen and displays them immediately. Ad platforms add several processing layers before conversions appear in their reports:
- Duplicate prevention: Platforms validate events against transaction IDs to remove duplicates
- Fraud filtering: Invalid traffic and bot detection requires additional processing time
- Attribution modeling: Non-last-click models require cross-session and cross-device data reconciliation
- iOS privacy: SKAdNetwork batches conversion data, adding at least 24 hours of delay for iOS app promotion campaigns
This is expected behavior. Use the conversions in AnyTrack for real-time decisions. Use the ad platform reports for final attribution numbers.
Troubleshooting Discrepancies
Section titled “Troubleshooting Discrepancies”If conversions in AnyTrack do not appear in your ad platform after the expected delay window:
- Under 30 minutes: Normal. All platforms have ingestion delays.
- 30 minutes to 72 hours: Find the platform in the table above. If less time has passed than the platform’s reporting delay, wait. If more time has passed, check the attribution model settings and the iOS campaign delays.
- Over 72 hours: Check your integration settings for configuration issues, or verify the ad platform is not experiencing an outage.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ was last reviewed on 2026-11-06