Lifetimely vs. Shopify Reporting: The Key Difference | Understanding Timing in Financial Reports
At a glance: Lifetimely and Shopify often show different numbers because they treat time differently.
- Lifetimely (by default) shows the final, retroactive outcome of each order - reflecting refunds and returns on the original order date.
- Shopify shows a day-by-day snapshot of financial activity, recording each event when it happens.
Note: Lifetimely’s refund calculation setting lets you decide how closely your reports align with Shopify’s timing - either by reflecting refunds on their original order date or on the processing date.
If you’ve ever compared numbers between Shopify’s native reports and Lifetimely and thought something looks “off,” you’re not alone. Many merchants run into this exact issue - and the reason comes down to one key difference: how each system treats time.
The Core Difference: How Time is Treated
What may look like a mismatch between Lifetimely and Shopify reports - and sometimes even between reports within Lifetimely - actually comes down to one key question: Should transactions appear on the date they occurred, or on the date they were processed?
| Feature | Lifetimely – Orders Reports | Lifetimely – Income Statement | Shopify Analytics & Reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viewpoint | Final Outcome (Retroactive) | Financial Activity Snapshot | Operational Snapshot (Day-by-Day) |
| What’s Measured | Order-level data - shows the final state of each order. | Financial activity (revenue, refunds, taxes) processed during the selected date range. | Same as Lifetimely’s Income Statement - actions recorded as they occur. |
| Refunds / Adjustments | Reflected on the original order date (if refund backdating is enabled). | Reflected on the processing date (when the refund or adjustment happens). | Reflected on the processing date only - no backdating. |
| Purpose | Shows finalized outcomes for accurate order-level and customer profitability. | Tracks when financial events occurred for accounting and reconciliation. | Tracks real-time operations and daily business activity. |
How These Views Work Together
Lifetimely Orders Reports always show the final state of each order.
If a refund or return occurs later, the order’s record updates retroactively (when refund backdating is enabled). This makes the Orders Report ideal for measuring profitability, retention, and customer value.
Lifetimely Income Statement focuses on when money moved - not when the order originated.
If your refund date setting assigns refunds to the processing date, those refunds appear in the period they were issued, not in the order’s original timeframe. This makes it more aligned with accounting-style financial tracking.
Shopify Analytics behaves similarly to Lifetimely’s Income Statement.
It records each sale, refund, or adjustment on the day it happened, but its structure is optimized for operational visibility rather than profitability analysis.
In short:
- Lifetimely Orders Report: Shows the final outcome of every order (retroactive).
- Lifetimely Income Statement: Shows when financial activity occurred.
- Shopify Analytics: Shows the state of business activity as of that day.
Calculation Logic: Controlling Refund-Date Assignment
You can control how Lifetimely records refunds under
Settings → Calculation logic → “Assign refunds to the original order date instead of the processing date.”
This setting determines how time is treated across all Lifetimely reports.
| Setting State | Behavior | Effect on Reports |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ Enabled | Refunds are back-dated to the original order date. | Matches Lifetimely’s “final outcome” model. Reports reflect the true profitability of the original period. |
| ⬜ Disabled (default) | Refunds are dated to the processing date (the day the refund occurs). | Aligns more closely with Shopify’s default. Refunds appear later, when they are processed. |
💡 Tip:
- Enable this setting for accurate customer lifetime value (LTV) and long-term profitability analysis.
- Keep it disabled if you want to reconcile more easily with Shopify’s daily financials.
The Impact on Metrics
The refund-date setting directly affects metrics such as Total Sales, Net Sales, and Gross Profit.
| View | Refund Setting | Result on Oct 1 Report (Order placed Oct 1, refunded Oct 15) |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetimely (Backdating ON) | Refunds assigned to original order date | Shows $0 - refund backdated to Oct 1. |
| Lifetimely (Backdating OFF) | Refunds assigned to processing date | Shows $100 on Oct 1; refund appears on Oct 15. |
| Shopify (default) | Refunds dated to processing date | Shows $100 on Oct 1; refund visible only from Oct 15 onward. |
Result:
Lifetimely’s numbers may appear lower than Shopify’s because they already include later refunds and adjustments - especially when refund backdating is enabled.
The Role of Time Windows
- Short Windows (Day / Week): Differences are exaggerated because Shopify hasn’t yet processed later refunds or returns.
- Longer Windows (Month / Quarter): The gap narrows as most financial activity catches up.
Shopify can’t retroactively reassign refunds to the original order date, while Lifetimely can - so results will never fully align.
Key Takeaway
Both reporting models are valid - they simply answer different questions.
| Use this tool for → | Best for → |
| Shopify | Daily operational visibility and accounting snapshots. |
| Lifetimely | Accurate, finalized profitability and long-term customer analytics. |