A free gift with purchase (GWP) asks for a bigger cart in return for something the shopper can hold. Done well, it raises order value and gives you a way to introduce a product people haven’t tried. Done badly, it confuses shoppers who don’t see the gift in their cart.
Why GWP works
- It feels like more value than a discount. A $10 gift can feel more generous than $10 off, and costs you the product cost, not the retail price.
- It moves samples and new products. A travel-size item or a new flavor in every qualifying order gets tried.
- It gives a clear goal. “Spend $75, get a free tote” is easy to understand.
The four ways to give a gift
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-add | The gift is added to the cart the moment the goal is reached | One gift; simplest experience |
| Pick a gift | Shoppers choose from several gifts in a popup or carousel | Variety; letting shoppers pick a size or shade |
| Mystery gift | Shoppers get a surprise; you pack it from an order note | Clearing stock; a bit of excitement |
| Cheapest item free | The lowest-priced item from a collection becomes free | “Buy 3, get the cheapest free” style offers |
All four are available in Kai.
What Shopify does on its own
Shopify’s Buy X Get Y automatic discount can make an item free when a condition is met. The catch: the free item must already be in the cart. Shopify doesn’t add it, so the shopper needs to know about the offer, find the gift product and add it. Many don’t — and then contact support asking where their gift is.
An app closes that gap by adding the gift (or asking the shopper to pick one) and keeping a progress bar visible so shoppers know how close they are.
How to set up a free gift with Kai
- Create a hidden gift product if the gift isn’t something you sell, or use a product you already have.
- Create a Kai campaign with a goal based on cart value or item count.
- Add a free gift tier and choose the method: auto-add, pick-a-gift, mystery or cheapest item from a collection.
- For pick-a-gift, choose the gifts and how many a shopper can take, and pick one of the two popup designs or the carousel.
- Set the messages: “Spend $18 more for a free tote” before the goal, “Your free tote is in the cart” after.
- Choose placements and publish. The gift is applied at checkout as a Shopify automatic discount.
You can include or exclude products and collections from the goal — for example, so gift cards don’t count toward it.
Tips for a better GWP offer
- Put a price on the gift in the message (“a free $15 tote”) so shoppers see its value.
- Pair it with free shipping. Free shipping at $50 and a gift at $75 gives shoppers two goals to aim for. See how to set up a free shipping bar.
- Schedule it. Run a gift for a launch weekend or a holiday with a start and end time. Kai schedules campaigns in your store’s time zone.
- Target first-time customers with a welcome gift to win the first order.
- Watch your stock. If the gift sells out, update the campaign so shoppers aren’t promised something you can’t send.
Frequently asked questions
Can Shopify automatically add a free gift to the cart?
Not with its built-in discounts. Shopify's Buy X Get Y discount makes the gift free once it's in the cart, but the shopper has to add it. An app like Kai adds the gift automatically when the cart reaches the goal.
Can shoppers choose their free gift?
Yes. In Kai you can offer several gifts in a popup or a carousel and set how many the shopper can take.
What is a mystery gift?
A surprise gift the shopper doesn't choose. Kai adds an order note so your team knows to include it when packing the order.
Do free gifts need a discount code?
No. Kai applies the gift as a Shopify automatic discount using Shopify Functions, so it's free at checkout without a code.