You already know free gifts with purchase can work wonders for boosting conversions and keeping customers happy. This tried-and-true tactic is a favorite among Shopify merchants for a reason. But to get the most out of it, you need the right setup, strategy, and tools.
This guide is your shortcut.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly:
Find the best Shopify apps for running smooth and effective free gift campaigns
Explore different types of offers - from BOGO to cart-value rewards—and when to use them
Learn step-by-step methods for setting up your promotions with Shopify’s built-in tools or third-party apps
Get tips to maximize your results and avoid common pitfalls
Ready to turn free gifts into a powerful marketing tool? Let's dive in!
1. Top Shopify free gift with purchase implementation types
Before we dive into the tools and setup steps, it’s important to get clear on what kind of free gift offer you want to run. That way, you’ll be able to choose the right app and the right strategy for your goals - whether it’s boosting AOV, moving old inventory, or rewarding loyal customers.
Below, we’ll walk through the most common implementation types for Shopify stores, with examples and tips on when each one works best. Use this as a quick guide to clarify your direction before getting into the technical setup.
1.1. Free gift with all purchases
This approach is one of the easiest to implement and is ideal for Shopify beginners who want a fast, effective way to add value to every purchase by offering unconditional free gifts with all orders.
Why use it:
Excellent for first-time campaigns
Builds goodwill and surprises customers
Smooth to set up - no complicated rules or thresholds
Pro tip: Use low-cost, complementary items (like travel-size products, branded merch, or samples) to keep profit margins healthy. This approach works especially well for new stores or product launches.
1.2. Free gift when spending over a certain amount (Threshold-based)
By setting a minimum purchase amount (e.g., "Spend $50, get a free gift"), this strategy nudges shoppers to add more items to their cart to unlock a gift once it reaches a specific dollar amount.
Why use it:
You should choose a threshold that’s slightly above your average order value to make the gift feel like a worthy achievement - but still within reach. Pair it with a gift that's genuinely useful or exciting.
1.3. Product-specific gift / Buy X Get Y (BOGO style)
With this type, customers get a free item when purchasing a specific product or product combo. For example, "Buy any lipstick, get a makeup remover free".
Why use it:
Helps promote new products
Encourages exploration across categories
Ideal for clearing old stock or pairing related items
Make sure the gift is clearly tied to the main product to increase perceived value. You can also rotate product-gift pairs to keep the offer fresh.
1.4. Loyalty-based free gifts (For repeat purchases)
Reward customers with free gifts after they return to shop again - whether it’s their second, third, or tenth order. It’s a great way to show appreciation and turn shoppers into loyal fans.
Why use it:
Strengthens brand connection
Gives customers a reason to return
Reinforces positive purchase behavior
Pro tip: Automate this with order tracking or customer tags, and include a thank-you message in the package to make it personal.
1.5. Mystery gifts
Shoppers don’t know what the free gift is until they receive it. This creates a sense of curiosity and adds an element of surprise that can drive conversions.
Why use it:
Creates a gamified experience
Boosts excitement and urgency
Encourages impulse purchases
The gift should still be relevant and valuable - this isn’t a dumping ground for unsold items. You can frame it as a “mystery gift worth $15+” to increase perceived value.
1.6. Bundle-style free gifts
This strategy offers a free item when specific products are bought together - think curated sets or “complete the look”
bundles. For example, "Buy any jacket and jeans, get a free beanie."
Why use it:
You should use sales data to choose bundles that customers already lean toward - don’t randomly group products. This tactic can also help shift related items that aren’t selling well on their own.
1.7. Custom free gifts based on location, time, or customer segments
This is a more advanced method that lets you offer free gifts only to certain groups - like customers in a specific country, during a seasonal campaign, or based on shopping behavior (e.g., VIPs or high spenders).
Why use it:
Delivers personalized promotions
Supports localized or seasonal marketing
Makes offers feel exclusive and intentional
Pro tip: Use customer tags, time-based conditions, or geographic targeting to implement this with precision. It’s especially effective during holidays or major store milestones.
Now that you know what kind of free gift strategy to use, let’s look at how to do a gift with purchase on Shopify. In the next section, we’ll walk through two practical ways to set this up: using Shopify’s built-in features, and using a third-party app for more advanced options.
2. How to add a free gift with purchase on Shopify?
Once you've chosen the type of free gift offer that fits your store’s goals, the next step is implementation. On Shopify, there are two primary ways to create free gifts with purchases:
Each approach has its own advantages depending on the complexity of your offer, your technical experience, and whether you need automation or customization. Below, we’ll walk you through both methods so you can choose what works best for your store.
2.1. Using Shopify’s built-in discount features
One of the simplest ways to offer a free gift on Shopify is by leveraging the platform’s native Buy X Get Y automatic discount. This built-in feature allows you to create straightforward promotions where customers receive a free item once they meet specific purchase criteria.
For instance, you can offer a free product when a customer buys a certain number of items or spends over a set amount. While this method doesn't automatically place the gift in the cart, it’s easy to set up and doesn't require any third-party tools.
How to set it up:
From your Shopify admin, go to Discounts.
Click Create discount > From the Select discount type menu, click Buy X get Y.
Under Method, select Discount code or Automatic.
Enter a name for the discount code, for example, “buy-one-get-one-free”.
In the Customer buys section, set the minimum quantity of items or minimum purchase amount required to qualify for the discount.
Choose the products or collections that qualify for the promotion.
In the Customer gets section, set the quantity of items that a customer must add to their cart to get the discount.
Choose the products or collections that will be offered as a free gift.
Select “Free” under the At discounted value section.
Review your settings and click Save discount.
Things to keep in mind:
Customers must manually add the gift to their cart - so it's crucial to inform them via banners, cart notes, or pop-ups.
Shopify only allows one automatic discount to run at a time, which makes tiered gift campaigns (like spend $100, get X; spend $200, get Y) difficult to implement with this method.
This approach is ideal for merchants looking for a free, no-fuss way to launch a basic gift-with-purchase promotion.
2.2. Using a third-party Shopify app free gift with purchase
For more advanced control, automation, and flexibility, a third-party Shopify app is the better option. These apps are designed specifically for promotions like free gifts, offering features that go beyond Shopify’s native capabilities.
In this guide, we’ll use Qikify BOGO Free Gift Discount as an example. It’s a feature-rich app that supports a variety of promotions, including auto-added gifts, BOGO deals, and product bundles - all with minimal setup effort.
Step 1: Create a new offer
Step 2: Configure offer settings
Display location: Choose where the offer will appear, such as on the product page or, for Shopify Plus users, the checkout page.
Customer buys: Define the trigger products by selecting specific products, collections, product tags, or all products.
Advanced settings:
Limit quantity: Restrict the number of gift items a customer can receive.
Allow quantity editing: Enable customers to adjust the quantity of gift items.
Display conditions: Set specific conditions under which the offer will be displayed.
Max discount uses: Limit the total number of times the discount can be used.
Schedule: Define the start and end dates for the promotion.
Enable countdown: Add a countdown timer to create urgency.
Step 3: Save the promotion
Once everything is set, hit Save and test it out to ensure everything works correctly on the storefront.
(*) Protip: Although Shopify's built-in automatic discounts and third-party apps offer an easy way to run gift-with-purchase campaigns, they might fall short when it comes to more intricate promotion setups. In those cases, a custom free gift with purchase Shopify script allows you to build fully tailored rules for free gifts.
This approach offers the highest level of customization and control, but it also demands advanced technical skills. It's best suited for merchants with access to developers or those open to investing in custom solutions, especially when the promotion involves a complex Shopify free gift with purchase code or specific business needs.
Whether you're launching your first gift-with-purchase promotion or fine-tuning a more advanced strategy, Shopify provides solid tools to help you get started. For simple, one-off campaigns, Shopify’s built-in discount features offer a fast and easy solution without the need for additional apps.
However, if your goals include automation, tiered rewards, or personalized gift logic, a third-party app can unlock much more flexibility. These apps let you create targeted, branded promotions that go beyond Shopify’s default capabilities.
Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the top recommended Shopify apps for adding free gifts with purchase, and how each one stacks up depending on your store’s needs.
3. The best Shopify free gift with purchase app
Third-party apps can take your free gift promotions to the next level with ease - unlocking automation, flexibility, and advanced customization that Shopify’s native tools can’t always provide. These apps simplify the process of designing, managing, and optimizing offers, making it easier to boost average order value, reward loyal customers, and run time-sensitive campaigns.
Here are some of the top-rated free gift apps on Shopify and what makes each one stand out.
3.1. Qikify Upsell BOGO & Free Gift
Qikify Upsell BOGO & Free Gift is a comprehensive promotional tool designed to help Shopify merchants increase average order value (AOV) and drive more conversions through smart discounting and upselling. It supports a wide range of promotion types - including Buy one get one (BOGO) deals, volume discounts, and free gifts with purchase - all within an intuitive, beginner-friendly interface.
Rating | 4.9/5.0 (1,000+ reviews) |
Built for Shopify | ✅ |
Demo store | View |
🔷 Pricing plan:
🟢 Key features:
Multiple promotion types: BOGO, Buy X Get Y, free gift with purchase, volume discounts, product bundles
Cart upsell tools: Pop-ups, reward bars, free shipping motivators
Customizable campaigns: Fully editable design, schedule campaigns, set display rules
Real-time analytics: Track performance, conversions, and optimize offers
Seamless integration: Built for Shopify, compatible with Dawn theme, PageFly, Gempages
Multilingual support: Available in 8 languages
3.2. Koala Upsell Free Gift BOGO
Koala Upsell Free Gift BOGO is a powerful all-in-one app designed to help Shopify merchants boost sales through a mix of upsells, free gifts, and engaging pop-up offers. If you're running BOGO deals, offering free gifts with purchase Shopify promotions, or encouraging larger orders with product add-ons, Koala makes it easy with a user-friendly setup and highly customizable designs. It is ideal for stores that want to combine conversion-driving strategies into one streamlined tool.
Rating | 4.9/5.0 (300+ reviews) |
Built for Shopify | ✅ |
🔷 Pricing plan:
🟢 Key features:
Promotion types: BOGO (Buy One Get One), Buy X Get Y, product add-ons, pop-up upsells, and free gifts
Gift automation: Automatically add free gifts to the cart when qualifying items are added
Targeted upsells: Set upsell rules based on customer location or past behavior
Upsell display: Show pop-ups and product add-ons on add-to-cart action
Design customization: Fully customizable upsell blocks and promotional pop-ups
Unlimited offers: Create unlimited upsell and gift campaigns across all plans
Analytics: Monitor and optimize sales performance with campaign insights
3.3. BOGOS.io Free Gift BOGO Bundle
BOGOS.io by Secomapp is a feature-rich promotion builder built for serious upselling and gifting strategies. Designed with scalability in mind, this app goes beyond the basics to support everything from auto free gift offers to full bundle creation, advanced segmentation, and seamless Shopify POS integration.
Rating | 4.9/5.0 (1,800+ reviews) |
Built for Shopify | ✅ |
Demo store | View |
🔷 Pricing plan:
Basic: $29.99/month(For Basic Shopify stores)
Professional: $49.99/month (For Professional/Shopify stores)
Unlimited: $69.99/month (For Unlimited/Advanced Shopify stores)
Plus: $99.99/month (For Shopify Plus stores)
🟢 Key features:
Product discount: BOGO (Buy One Get One), Buy X Get Y, free gift with purchase, product bundles, mix & match, quantity breaks
Gift display methods: Auto add to cart, gift slider, product page widget
Advanced targeting: Specific URL, customer tags, geolocation, order history, cart value
Cart upsell: Bundle builder, upsell offers, thank-you page upsell
Fully customizable UI: Custom display for pop-ups, sliders, and widgets
Real-time analytics: Track performance and optimize promotions efficiently
Seamless integration: Works with Shopify POS, Checkout, Hydrogen, Slide Cart, and more
3.4. EG Auto Add to Cart Free Gift
EG Auto Add to Cart Free Gift (EasyGift) is a user-friendly Shopify app designed to streamline your gift-with-purchase and upsell strategies. Whether you’re running a BOGO offer, adding a free product to boost AOV, or triggering promotions based on specific cart rules, this app makes it effortless. With seamless cart integration and advanced scheduling, you can run smart, timed campaigns that automatically add gifts to the cart - without manual setup or coding.
Rating | 4.9/5.0 (700+ reviews) |
Built for Shopify | ✅ |
Demo store | View |
🔷 Pricing plan:
Standard: $14.99/month
Unlimited: $29.99/month
🟢 Key features:
Product discount: Auto add free gift, BOGO (Buy One Get One), Buy X Get Y, product add-ons
Cart triggers: Trigger rules based on cart value, specific products, or collections
Scheduling options: Set start and end times to automate your gift rules
Cart upsell: Automatically add upsell items or gifts based on cart behavior
Seamless integration: Works with Shopify drawer and interactive carts
Custom rule setup: Create cart-based “cartbot” rules for upsell and promotions
Real-time alerts: Stock tracking for action products to avoid overselling
Simple UI: Easy-to-use interface for quick rule creation and management
3.5. AOV Free Gift Buy X Get Y BOGO
AOV Free Gift by AOV.ai is a powerful Shopify app designed to help merchants turn small orders into big wins. Leveraging AI-powered recommendations, it simplifies the process of creating high-converting gift campaigns such as BOGO, Buy X Get Y, and tiered reward boxes. With engaging pop-ups, customizable rules, and deep analytics, this app gives you full control to create smart, automated upsell strategies that increase AOV and drive conversions.
Rating | 4.9/5.0 (800+ reviews) |
Built for Shopify | ✅ |
Demo store | View |
🔷 Pricing plan:
🟢 Key features:
Product discount: BOGO, Buy X Get Y, quantity-based gifts, collection gift offers
Cart reward bar: Tiered reward boxes, spend-based cart rewards, order goal incentives
Cart upsell: Automatically adds gifts based on cart value or product conditions
Advanced rules: Set gift limits, multipliers, and campaign scheduling
AI-powered tools: Smart setup recommendations tailored to your store’s needs
Real-time analytics: Track and optimize campaign performance dynamically
Seamless integration: Works with Shopify checkout and discount codes
Support & customization: 24/7 live chat, multilingual support, and priority assistance
To sum up, choosing the right free gift app for your Shopify store depends on a few key factors: your promotion goals, store size, budget, and how hands-on you want to be.
Consider your promotion goals: simple gifts, BOGO offers, or advanced tiered campaigns require different feature sets.
Evaluate your store’s size and budget: some apps offer free plans for basic needs, while others charge for premium features.
Look for theme compatibility: make sure the app works smoothly with your current Shopify theme, especially if you're using a drawer cart or a custom layout.
Check for integration with your checkout and other tools: some apps offer better compatibility with Shopify POS, Shopify Flow, or third-party cart apps.
Think about ease of use: choose an app with a user-friendly interface if you don’t have technical support on hand.
Prioritize support: apps with 24/7 chat or dedicated onboarding can save time and reduce frustration.
Review analytics and tracking: good performance insights help you optimize campaigns over time.
With so many Shopify apps available, merchants have a wide range of tools to choose from, from simple options like auto-adding gifts to the cart to more advanced solutions with tiered offers, upsells, and AI personalization.
With the right app in place, your free gift promotions can become a powerful driver of revenue and customer satisfaction.
4. Final thoughts: Your free gift with purchase Shopify journey starts now
In conclusion, this article has illuminated the diverse and powerful ways in which free gifts with purchase can be strategically implemented on your Shopify store. From simple gestures of goodwill to sophisticated, targeted campaigns designed to boost average order value and foster customer loyalty, the right approach can significantly impact your business growth.
The key takeaways from the article include:
Diverse implementation types: Understanding the seven main approaches and their unique benefits.
Implementation methods: Answering the question “How do I add a free gift option in Shopify?” utilizes the built-in discount feature for basic promotions and leveraging third-party apps for advanced automation and customization.
List of top-rated third-party apps: Taking a deep view of Shopify apps that offer greater flexibility, automation, and features for more complex and targeted free gift strategies.
Now equipped with this knowledge, we strongly encourage you to begin experimenting with free gift options on your own Shopify store.
To streamline this process and unlock a wealth of advanced promotional features, consider exploring Qikify Upsell BOGO & Free Gift. Its comprehensive tools and user-friendly interface make it an excellent starting point for creating compelling and effective free gift campaigns. Start creating those irresistible offers today and witness the positive impact on your store's performance!
5. FAQs about free gift with purchase Shopify
To create a Shopify free gift card with purchase, follow these steps:
From your Shopify admin, go to Products > Gift cards.
Click Add a gift card product.
Enter the gift card product information, such as the title (e.g., Birthday Gift Card), description, and media (image).
Set the denominations for the gift card, which are the preset values customers can choose from.
In the Sales channels and apps section, choose where you want to sell the gift card (e.g., online store).
Click Save gift card product to create the gift card.
A complimentary gift is an item or service given to a customer or recipient free of charge, often as a gesture of goodwill, appreciation, or to enhance their experience.
Here's a breakdown of what a complimentary gift entails:
Given for free: The recipient doesn't pay for it directly.
Often unexpected: While sometimes part of a promotion, it can also be a surprise.
Builds positive relationships: It's a way to show appreciation, apologize for inconvenience, or create a positive association with a brand or service.
Can be tangible or intangible: It could be a physical item, a service upgrade, extra features, or even just a thoughtful gesture.
To promote your free gift on Shopify, you can use several strategies:
Promotional banners and pop-ups: Use promotional banners on your storefront to highlight the free gift offer. You can also use pop-ups to grab the attention of visitors when they land on your site.
Email marketing: Send out an email campaign to your subscribers announcing the free gift promotion. Highlight the benefits and create a sense of urgency.
Social media promotion: Share posts about your free gift offer on your social media channels. Use engaging visuals and hashtags to reach a wider audience.
Product page and checkout: Mention the free gift offer on relevant product pages and during the checkout process to remind customers of the promotion.
By using these methods, you can effectively promote your free gift and encourage more customers to take advantage of the offer.
To offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount on Shopify, follow these steps:
From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.
In the Shipping section, click the shipping profile that you want to edit.
For each shipping zone where you want to offer free shipping, click Add rate.
Enter a name for the rate, such as Free Shipping.
Set the Price field to 0.
Click Add conditions.
Select Based on order price.
Enter the minimum order price required to qualify for free shipping.
Click Done, and then click Save to apply the changes.
This setup will ensure that customers receive free shipping when their order total meets or exceeds the specified amount.
Lauren Nguyen
Growth Marketing Specialist at Qikify
Hey there! Lauren here - the data-driven marketing gal at Qikify. My thing? Providing eCommerce merchants like you with the most valuable insights and streamlined solutions to help grow your online stores and drive more sales. Since joining this exciting industry, I've been all about sharing expertise to boost your success.
When I'm not geeking out over marketing, you'll find me kickstarting my day with a delicious morning coffee (and let's be real, an afternoon cup is a must some days to power through).
Feel free to connect with me through LinkedIn. I'm always stoked to chat with fellow marketing enthusiasts, store owners, swap ideas, and explore cool new collaborations. Together, we can take your online business to new heights!
