A free gift with purchase promotion rewards customers for buying a product or reaching a spending threshold, helping boost conversions, Average Order Value (AOV), and customer loyalty.
Shopify merchants can set up these promotions using built in features like âBuy X, Get Yâ discounts, third party apps such as Kite, Easy Bundles, and Checkout Wiz, or through custom development for advanced needs.
To maximize conversions, stores should use clear pop ups, banners, or messages prompting customers to add the free gift to their cart and highlight the offer across key touchpoints like product pages, carts, and checkout.
Ideal free gifts include samples, exclusive or limited edition products, free shipping, or festival themed items that align with customer interests and seasonal trends.
Strategies such as limited time offers, member exclusive gifts, holiday campaigns, and tiered gifting systems can create urgency and increase customer engagement.
Successful case studies like Pilgrim x Kite demonstrate how free gift promotions can effectively enhance loyalty, drive sales, and deliver memorable shopping experiences.
Quick Answer: The Simplest Way to Add a Free Gift
The quick answer is to use Shopify'sAutomatic Discount â Buy X Get Y. Customers qualify by buying a product or reaching a minimum cart value, and the gift product is discounted to free.
Important limitation: In many Shopify setups, customers must manually add the gift to cart for the discount to apply. To remove friction, add a cart message with a direct gift link or use an app that automatically adds the gift.| Best Solution:Â Apart from this, there are multiple limitations to setting up a free gift with purchase promotion directly on Shopify. Hence it is recommended you use a Shopify Free Gift app.
There are many nuances to setting up such a promotion. So lets explore this topic in detail.
What âFree Gift With Purchaseâ Means in Shopify?Â
A free gift with purchase is a promotion where customers receive an additional product at no cost after meeting a specific condition, such as purchasing a qualifying product or reaching a minimum cart value.
In Shopify, free gifts are implemented using discount logic rather than native âgiftâ functionality, which makes understanding setup rules and limitations especially important.
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How to Set Up Free Gift with Purchase on Shopify?Â
Option1: Natively Set Up on Shopify (Buy X Get Y)
The easiest way to offer a free gift with purchase on Shopify without third-party apps is by using the automatic discount feature, specifically a "Buy X get Y" promotion. This allows you to make the gift with purchase product free without needing a discount code.
To set up automatic discounts for a gift with purchase promotion on Shopify, follow these step:
1. Access Shopify Admin: Navigate to your store admin > Discounts > Create discount > Automatic discount.
2. Name Your Discount: Choose a name such as âFree Gift over $100â. This name will appear during checkout, so make sure itâs short and clear for customers.
3. Select Discount Type: Choose the âBuy X get Yâ option.
4. Configure Gifting Rules:
To create a rule like âBuy product X, get afree giftâ, select âMinimum quantity of items,â set it to 1, and choose the product(s) that customers need to buy to qualify for the free gift with purchase.
For a âSpend $X, get a free giftâ(either store-wide or for a specific collection), select âMinimum purchase amount,â enter the amount, and pick the collection where the gift with purchase offer applies. For a store-wide offer, choose âAll Products.â
5. Select the Free Gift Product: Under the âCustomer buysâ section, choose your free gift product and set the âAt a discount valueâ to âFree.â
6. Limit Maximum Uses (Optional): If you'd like to limit the gift with purchase to just one per order, you can set a maximum usage limit.
7. Save the Discount: Click âSave discountâ to activate the promotion.
Keep in mind that only one automatic discount can be active at a time, so offering a tiered free gift with purchase ideas (e.g., âSpend $100, get X; Spend $200, get Yâ) requires using additional gift with purchase apps or custom methods.
Overcoming Limitation: Suggest the customer to add the free gift to their cart.
A major challenge with gift-with-purchase promotions using automatic discounts is that customers must manually add the free gift with purchase to their cart before checkout. This adds an extra step that may reduce conversion rates.
To encourage customers to take action, useÂ
A. Visible Messaging:
Use pop-ups, banners, or notifications across your store to encourage customers to take action. Example: âSpend $75 and get a free Nike Water Bottle (add it to your cart before checkout).â
B. Message Integration:
Manually add these messages if your theme allows it.
Use third-party tools like Quick Announcement Bar (a free app) for easy integration.
A clear, visually appealing banner or pop-up prompting customers to add their free gift to the cart before checkout.
Other Limitations of Native Free Gift Set Up on Shopify
Limitation
What it means in practice
Recommended workaround
Gift not auto-added
Customer must add gift manually
Add cart message + gift link
One automatic discount only
Canât stack multiple auto discounts
Use manual codes or apps
Single gift per rule
No built-in multiple gifts
Use app or custom logic
No tiered gifting
Same gift regardless of cart value
Use app-based tier logic
Inventory-dependent
Gift fails if out of stock
Monitor inventory or add fallback
Limited messaging
No native gift prompts
Use cart UI messaging
Option 2: Use a Shopify Free Gift App- (Recommended)
Shopify Free Gift Apps are useful when you want the free gift automatically added to the cart or need advanced logic such as tiered gifts, multiple gifts, or dynamic conditions. Apps also help set up on-brand widgets with smart UXÂ features like a progress bar. All with no code.
Free Gift App:Â Kite: Discount & Free GiftÂ
With Kite Discount &Â Free Gift, you can create free gift with purchase promotions by setting conditions like order value or specific product purchases. The app will automatically apply the free gift once the conditions are met at the cart level. For detailed setup, check out our full guide here.
Kite is specialised in free gift set ups. You can autoâadd or manually customerâchosen gifts on product page, cart and checkout. It comes with various widgets & progress bars which help drive conversions on free gift promotions. Priced atjust $19/month, Kite Discount & Free Gift a good investment for running a sharply segmented, free gift promotion on Shopify.
Bundles & Upsell App:Â Easy Bundles
Easy Bundles lets you set up promotions that automatically offer a free gift when certain conditions are met within the bundle. The app is perfect if you want to offer free gift with bundles or set specific thresholds to trigger the promotion. For more details on how to use Easy Bundles for this, refer to our guide here.
Checkout App: Checkout Wiz
Checkout Wiz helps you to add custom upsell offers, including free gifts, directly at checkout. You can set up various free gift promotions based on order value or products. The app streamlines the process, reducing friction in the checkout flow. Check out the full setup process in our guide here.
Option 3: Custom Development (Advanced Logic +Â Shopify Functions)
For complex promotions, Shopify Functions or custom development enables advanced rule logic, tighter discount control, and scalable promotional workflows. If the previous options donât fit your needs, the final solution is to develop a free gift with purchase system through an external developer or agency. While this is typically the most expensive option, it offers the most tailored and effective solution for your store. The cost will vary depending on your requirements.
Which Free Gift Setup Should You Use?
Not every free gift with purchase setup works the same way. The best option depends on your promotion complexity, automation needs, and technical resources.
Use the table below to quickly determine which setup is right for your store.
Your requirement
Recommended setup
Why this works
Simple free gift with purchase
Shopify Buy X Get Y (native)
Fast to set up, no apps required
Free gift auto-added to cart
Shopify app
Removes friction and improves conversion
Tiered gifts (spend more â better gift)
Shopify app
Native discounts donât support tiering
Multiple free gifts in one order
Shopify app
Native setup supports only one âYâ gift
Advanced conditional logic
Shopify Functions / custom
Full control over rules and stacking
Low-budget / simple promo
Native Shopify
No additional monthly cost
High-volume promotional campaigns
App or custom
Better scalability and UX
Free Gift Product Ideas for Your Store
Here are the most widely used free gift product ideas:
Sample Products: Ideal for beauty, skincare, and health-related stores. Offer a sample of a new product as a gift to encourage future purchases.
Exclusive Products: Offer a limited-edition item that can only be redeemed with a certain order value.
Free Shipping: For customers who meet a specific spending threshold, free shipping can be an attractive offer.
Festival Themed Free Gifts: Offer seasonal knick-knacks as free gifts e.g. Halloween-themed keychains, Christmas ornaments
Where to Feature a Shopify Free Gift Promotion?
You can offer free gift with purchase promotions at multiple points during the user journey.Â
1. Product page
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2. Cart
â
3. Checkout
Choose either one or multiple of these locationsÂ
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What are the Advantages of a Free Gift with Purchase Promotion?
A free gift with purchase promotion is a powerful promotional strategy. They help achieve the following:Â
Increased Average Order Value (AOV): By setting a minimum spend threshold for the free gift, customers may add more items to their cart to qualify.
Drive Conversions: A free gift at checkout is sometimes the incentive a customer needs to click on that âpay now buttonâÂ
Enhanced Customer Loyalty: Customers love receiving something for free, which can lead to repeat purchases and long-term loyalty.
Attracting New Customers: Offering free gifts can be a great way to draw in new customers and introduce them to your brand. (Send Free Gift to a Friend)
Strategies for Running Free Gift Promotions
To make your gift with purchase promotion truly effective, here are some strategies you can use:
Limited Time Offers: Create urgency by limiting the promotion to a specific time frame.
Exclusive Member Offers: Offer free gifts exclusively to your loyal customers or subscribers. This can incentivize people to join your email list.
Holiday & Event-Based Promotions: Leverage major holidays or seasonal events (like Black Friday, Christmas, etc.) to offer free gifts with purchases.
Tiered Offers: Offer different gifts based on how much the customer spends, e.g., a small gift for purchases over $50 and a larger gift for purchases over $100.
By using these tactics, youâll keep your customers engaged and excited about whatâs next, ensuring that your free gift promotion strategy stands out in a crowded marketplace.
Examples of Gift with Purchase Promotions
If you're looking for inspiration on how to effectively implement a gift with purchase strategy, check out these two successful case studies:
Free Gifts + Discount Jewelry on Shopify â This case study showcases how offering free gifts alongside discounts can drive customer loyalty and increase sales. Read the full case study here.
Pilgrim x Kite: A Gift with Purchase Success Story â Learn how Pilgrim, in collaboration with Kite, leveraged gift with purchase promotions to engage customers and boost conversions. Read the full case study here.
Promotion type
Example
How to set it up in Shopify
Spend-based gift
Free mug on orders over $75
Buy X Get Y with minimum cart value
Buy-one-get-gift
Buy shampoo, get conditioner free
Buy X = product, Get Y = gift
Tiered gift
$50 = socks, $100 = hoodie
App with tiered rules
Collection-based
Buy from âSummerâ collection, get gift
Buy X = collection
Limited-time gift
Free gift during sale period
Automatic discount with schedule
Inventory-clearing
Free low-stock item
Buy X Get Y + inventory cap
Conclusion
Offering a free gift with purchase is a proven strategy for increasing sales and driving customer loyalty. Whether youâre offering a sample product, an exclusive item, or free shipping, this type of promotion can significantly boost conversions and help create memorable customer experiences.
Ready to implement your gift with purchase promotion? With the right tools, such as Kite, Easy Bundles. Checkout Wiz and the strategies outlined above, youâre well on your way to running a successful campaign.
Hurrify customers to buy within a given timeframe with a sales countdown timer & improve conversions
Another popular Shopify checkout app is Checkout Promotions. The app comes with the ability to leverage a collection of highly robust visibility rules that help show customers one-click post purchase upsell promotions after an order payment has been made. Some of its key features include:
Features
AI recommended and manual recommendations for upselling.
Complete branding control.
Checkout Upsell for increasing AOV.
AI recommended and manual recommendations for upselling.
Pricing
Development
Free
Monthly Plan
$99/ month
Plus Plan
$99/ month
Plus Plan
$99/ month
FAQs on Offering Free Gift with Purchase on Your Shopify Store
What is a free gift with purchase promotion on Shopify?
How do I set up a free gift with purchase promotion on Shopify?
Can I automate the free gift with purchase process?
What are the best types of gifts to offer with a purchase?
How do I encourage customers to add their free gift to the cart?
What should I avoid when running free gift with purchase promotions?
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Diksha P
Diksha leads Product Management at Skai Lama. She talks about discount campaigns, product recommendations, quizzes, and surveys to personalize Shopify stores.
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