Google Ads tracking templates

Google Ads is where most tracking-template pain shows up: Tracking template vs Final URL suffix, {lpurl} encoding, parallel tracking, and HubSpot hsa_* colliding with click-fraud redirects.

Use this hub for paste-ready stacks. For the macro cheat sheet see Google Ads parameters. Field ownership is covered in template vs suffix.

Open builder Parameter reference → All Google Ads recipes →

How Google Ads tracking is split

  • Tracking template — redirect structure / {lpurl} (or a tracker URL wrapping it).
  • Final URL suffix — query params that should reach the landing page (UTMs, nbt=, call-tracking keys).
  • Auto-tagging — keep on for gclid; UTMs do not replace it.

Inheritance trap

Most specific level wins and replaces entirely (account → campaign → ad group → ad / keyword / sitelink). Orphaned sitelink or keyword overrides are why “half our clicks have no UTMs.” Prefer account-level template + suffix. FAQ: level precedence.

Mobile measurement (MMP)

App campaigns usually need an MMP redirect in Tracking template — see AppsFlyer and Adjust. Web landings measured in AppsFlyer can use a Final URL suffix instead.

Related guides

Featured Google Ads recipes

HubSpot → Google Ads
Official hsa_* template
Tracking template HubSpot’s auto-tagging-compatible template. Replace YOUR_GOOGLE_ADS_CUSTOMER_ID (no dashes).
Open →
HubSpot + ClickCease → Google Ads
CRM + click fraud (split fields)
Tracking template + Final URL suffix Two safe patterns: keep HubSpot in Tracking template and put ClickCease keys in Final URL suffix, or merge query params when no redirect owns the template.
Open →
ClickCease redirect → Google Ads
Third-party click monitor URL
Tracking template Full ClickCease redirect template. Unique per domain — paste from your ClickCease dashboard.
Open →
Triple Whale → Google Ads
Minimal tw_* attribution
Tracking template Documented minimal Triple Whale template: tw_source, tw_adid, tw_campaign.
Open →
Hyros → Google Ads (Search)
{lpurl}&gc_id&h_ad_id
Tracking template Hyros Search/Display template using ampersand join for existing query strings.
Open →
Northbeam → Google Ads
Final URL suffix (nbt=)
Final URL suffix Paste into Final URL suffix, not Tracking template. Safe to append after existing UTMs.
Open →
WhatConverts → Google Ads
Lead-call attribution ValueTrack
Tracking template WhatConverts campaign / content / keyword mapping at account level.
Open →
HubSpot + Triple Whale → Google Ads
CRM + ecommerce attribution
Tracking template HubSpot hsa_* first, Triple Whale tw_* added without overwriting HubSpot UTMs.
Open →
ClickPatrol → Google Ads
Official redirect tracker
Tracking template ClickPatrol tracking template. Replace [[CLICKPATROL_ID]] with your uid from ClickPatrol.
Open →
CallRail → Google Ads
UTMs + callrail_campaign / callrail_keyword
Final URL suffix CallRail Final URL suffix: google/cpc UTMs plus callrail_campaign and callrail_keyword ValueTrack so inbound calls attribute to paid search.
Open →
CallTrackingMetrics → Google Ads
UTMs + ctm_campaign / ctm_keyword
Final URL suffix CallTrackingMetrics Final URL suffix: google/cpc UTMs plus ctm_campaign and ctm_keyword for calls, texts and chats from paid search.
Open →
AppsFlyer → Google Ads
MMP redirect · googleadwords_int
Tracking template AppsFlyer mobile measurement redirect for Google Ads app campaigns. Replace {app_id}, keep pid=googleadwords_int, and map ValueTrack into af_* params.
Open →
AppsFlyer web params → Google Ads
Final URL suffix · af_* + UTMs
Final URL suffix AppsFlyer web / landing-page Final URL suffix: af_c_id, af_adset_id, af_ad_id and af_keywords mapped from Google ValueTrack, plus google/cpc UTMs.
Open →
Adjust → Google Ads
MMP click URL · replace YOUR_ADJUST_TOKEN
Tracking template Adjust mobile measurement Tracking template for Google Ads. Paste your Adjust link token, keep ValueTrack campaign/adgroup/creative mapping, test, then save at account level.
Open →
Spectacle UTM guidelines → Google Ads
google / cpc + ValueTrack
Final URL suffix GA4 channel-clean Google Ads suffix from Spectacle’s 2025 UTM guidelines: utm_source=google, utm_medium=cpc, campaign/term/content macros.
Open →
Spectacle sp_* + UTMs → Google Ads
sp_n=google_ads + classic UTMs
Final URL suffix Spectacle Google Ads suffix: classic google/cpc UTMs plus sp_pl / sp_agi / sp_ai / sp_kwi / sp_n for Spectacle ingestion.
Open →

See all 165 Google Ads recipes →

FAQ

Should UTMs go in the Google Ads tracking template?

No — Final URL suffix under parallel tracking. Reserve Tracking template for redirects. Comparison.

Can HubSpot and ClickCease both use Tracking template?

Not as two redirects. One Tracking template per level. Typical pattern: HubSpot in template (or suffix) and ClickCease keys in suffix — see HubSpot + ClickCease.