Want to offer free gifts on Shopify? Here's how

Looking to surprise your customers with a free gift with purchase on your Shopify store? If you’re clearing out extra stock, launching a new product, or simply adding a thoughtful touch to boost sales, gifting is a time-tested way to build loyalty and increase average order value (AOV).

Adding a free gift with purchase or with a product to your Shopify store is easier than you think. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the different ways to do it.

How to offer free gifts on Shopify

There are several paths you can take to implement free gift offers on Shopify, ranging from super simple (but with some manual work) to fully automated (with a little setup). We'll walk you through each one, outlining the pros and cons so you can pick the best fit for your ecommerce business.

The automatic discount code method

The most straightforward with some limitations.

How it works:

Create a discount code in Shopify Admin (Discounts > Create discount).
Choose a "Buy X get Y" setup, a classic bogo structure.
Make sure your free gift with purchase is a specific product and set it to 100% off.
Promote the code on your product page, via pop-ups, banners, or email.

Pros:

Shopify native functionality, without the need for additional Shopify apps.
Easy setup.

Cons:

Customer must manually add to cart and apply the code at checkout.
Not a true auto add so missed steps can cause friction.

Great for limited-time promos or very simple offers but may not be scalable.

The manual method: When you're just starting out

This "bootstrap" approach works for low-volume stores or free plan users not ready to invest in automation.

Promote your free gift offer clearly (e.g. "Orders over $50 receive a gift!").
After the order is placed, manually add the free gift item in the admin.

Good for:

Early-stage Shopify store owners.
High-touch gifting strategies.
Avoiding costs from third-party apps or Shopify apps.

This option is also great for very simple offers but is not scalable and introduces the risk of human error.

The bundling method: Using the Simple Bundles & Kits app with dynamic pricing

This method is the most fail-safe and reliable way to offer Shopify free gifts, especially when those gifts are tied to a specific product.

Imagine this: a customer adds a product bundle to their cart, and your free gift is automatically added at a $0 price. The customer sees the free gift included in the bundle. When bundles are sold, the free gift product’s inventory is also deducted. Since the bundle’s inventory is calculated based on the inventory of its child products, you never have to worry about running out of stock.

Learn how to set this up: How can I set different prices for items within a bundle? Dynamic pricing + free gift

For Shopify Plus users: Script Editor

If you're on Shopify Plus, you can build custom scripts for free gift offers using Script Editor.

What you can do:

Auto add to cart when customers meet a threshold.
Code automatic discounts based on cart content.
Tailor bogo deals to any specific product or collection.

It’s powerful, but requires development support. For advanced functionality, it's one of the best Shopify native options out there.

Crafting your irresistible free gift offer

Your free gift with purchase should be relevant, high perceived price, and ideally introduce a new Shopify product to your audience. This is marketing, not just clearance.

Tips:

Choose gifts that complement the purchase.
Don’t dump unsellable stock, value matters.
Use gifting to introduce new products or test demand.
Factor in checkout and shipping costs.
Consider offering gift choices through free gift apps or pop-ups.

Launch checklist

Define a clear free gift offer.
Set AOV or specific product triggers.
Use Shopify apps, automatic discounts, or bogo setups.
Promote across your ecommerce site: banners, emails, pop-ups, and product pages.
Test flow end-to-end.
Monitor inventory.

Avoid these mistakes

Forgetting to update shopify product inventory.
Confusing bogo terms.
Giving low-value or irrelevant gifts.
Failing to test for auto add functionality at checkout.
Ignoring shopify theme conflicts with free gift apps.

Ready, set, gift!

Offering a Shopify free gift is one of the best ways to drive conversions, increase AOV, and delight your customers. Whether you're using a free plan and adding gifts manually or exploring free gift apps, there's a path that fits your needs.

The world of ecommerce rewards creativity and generosity. Don’t just offer "stuff", instead offer excitement, discovery, and joy. Whether it’s a classic bogo, a gwp offer, or a slick Shopify native automation, your Shopify store will benefit from a well-executed free gift campaign.

Go experiment, iterate, and let gifting become a cornerstone of your growth strategy!