Strict vs Loose Order

Strict versus loose order decides whether the user must do the funnel steps back-to-back with no event in between, or whether other events between the steps are allowed.

Under a strict order the next step counts only if it happened immediately after the previous one with no other event in between; under a loose order the user may do other things between the steps and still be counted as passing. A strict order almost always gives a lower conversion because it imposes a heavier condition, and for real behavior where users browse and compare it is often too strict and manufactures false drop-off. This setting should not be confused with an any-order funnel: under strict or loose order the sequence of steps is fixed and only the intermediate events are in question, whereas in an any-order funnel the sequence itself is free. The right choice comes from the question: for a route that truly must run without deviation, such as a secure payment flow, a strict order makes sense; for product browsing a loose order is more realistic. Like the other settings, two reports with different order rules are not comparable.