Are you looking to boost both sales and customer satisfaction on your Shopify store at the same time? GWP (Gift With Purchase), also known as a "free gift with purchase" promotion, is one effective way to do it.
This guide covers a wide range of ways to run gift-with-purchase promotions on a Shopify store, from standard features to dedicated apps. From small-scale test runs to full-scale automation, find the GWP strategy that's the best fit for your business.
What Is GWP (Gift With Purchase)?
GWP stands for Gift With Purchase, referring to a "free gift with purchase" promotion.
For example, it refers broadly to campaigns where a purchaser receives a specific item for free, such as the following.
- "Get a free gift with purchases of $XX or more"
- "Get a free sample with this purchase"
- "Limited-time bonus item added to this product set"
And more.
How to Run a GWP (Gift With Purchase) Campaign
Using Order Management
(The order editing screen)
Method
On the order detail page, add a free gift product via "Edit > Add product."
Benefits
- Possible using only Shopify's standard features (free)
- Can start right away
Drawbacks
- Requires manual work for every order, increasing workload
- Risk of misidentifying the target order or making handling mistakes
- Customers may not be aware of the gift at the time of purchase (since it's added after the order)
Using the Discount Feature
(Example configuration using the discount feature)
Method
Use Shopify's standard discount feature to set up "buy X, get Y free."
Benefits
- Possible using only Shopify's standard features (free)
- Customers can see the gift before purchasing
Drawbacks
- In many cases, the discount only applies if the customer adds the gift product to their cart themselves
- Requires some campaign promotion and customer-flow design
The blog article below introduces how to use the discount feature to give away a gift product for free. Please use it as a reference when setting up gift-product distribution.
Using Shopify Flow
(Example workflow for automatically distributing a gift product)
Method
In Shopify Flow, build a workflow that automatically adds a gift product when triggered by order conditions.
Benefits
- Possible using only Shopify's standard features (free)
- Automatic condition evaluation and distribution (can build even complex campaigns)
- Reduces operational workload
Drawbacks
- Customers may not be aware of the gift at the time of purchase (since it's added after the order)
The blog article below introduces how to use Shopify Flow to automatically add a product. Please use it as a reference when setting up automatic addition of a gift product.
Using a Shopify App
Method
Adopt an app specialized for GWP or gift-giving features, and automatically add a gift to the cart or order based on conditions.
Benefits
- Flexible setup, with broad customization of conditions and automatic cart addition
- Some apps clearly display "gift included" to customers
Drawbacks
- Paid
- May not support Japanese
The section below introduces recommended Shopify apps for GWP campaigns, so please use it as a reference when choosing an app.
Recommended Shopify Apps for GWP Campaigns
RuffRuff Order Bonus
RuffRuff Order Bonus is a Shopify app that can implement all kinds of perk campaigns (discounts and gift distribution) under any condition.
For example, it can run campaigns such as the following.
- Free shipping for VIP members only
- Discounts by membership tier
- Volume discounts
- Discounts when a specific product is included
- Discounts for customers with 10+ past purchases
- First-come, first-served discounts (20% off for the first 10 customers)
- Gift distribution for members only
- Sample distribution when a specific product is purchased
- Distributing summer trial samples during a spring-only campaign
- Novelty distribution for orders of ¥10,000 or more
And more.
Since it's an app developed by a Japanese company, it offers robust Japanese-language support, so those who aren't comfortable with English can use it with peace of mind.
The blog article below introduces how to use RuffRuff Order Bonus to distribute novelties. Please use it as a reference.
EG Auto Add to Cart Free Gift
Source: EG Auto Add to Cart Free Gift | Shopify App Store
EG Auto Add to Cart Free Gift is a Shopify app that automatically adds free gifts or products based on custom rules. Depending on specific products in the cart or the cart total, it can automatically add products, and can also schedule offers such as BOGO or Buy X Get Y.
The blog article below introduces EG Auto Add to Cart Free Gift's main features, capabilities, and setup steps. Please use it as a reference.
qikify Cart Upsell & Free Gift
Image source: qikify Cart Upsell & Free Gift | Shopify App Store
"qikify Cart Upsell & Free Gift" is an app that enables a variety of promotional tactics, and is used by over 7,200 Shopify stores worldwide. (As of March 2025)
Upselling, cross-selling, free gifts, product bundling (set sales), and other diverse promotions can all be achieved with a single app.
The blog article below introduces qikify Cart Upsell & Free Gift's main features, capabilities, and setup steps. Please use it as a reference.
BOGOS
Source: BOGOS | Shopify App Store
BOGOS is a versatile promotion app for Shopify stores. It lets you easily implement promotional features such as BOGO (Buy One Get One), volume discounts, and bundle sales (set sales) on your store. It also has various other features, including automatic cart addition and customer segmentation.
The blog article below introduces BOGOS's main features, capabilities, and setup steps. Please use it as a reference.
Best Practices for Successful GWP Campaigns
- Set a clear goal: Be clear on your purpose — clearing inventory, boosting average order value, raising awareness of a new product, etc.
- Choose the right gift: A related product or sample tied to your main product tends to be effective
- Communicate it clearly: Use banners or pop-ups to clearly convey the GWP campaign to customers
- Manage inventory thoroughly: Watch out for the gift product going out of stock, and prepare an alternative
- Measure results: Track changes in conversion rate and average order value to verify the campaign's effectiveness
Conclusion
There are various ways to implement GWP campaigns on Shopify. It's recommended to start with a small-scale test run, then gradually consider automation or adopting an app. By offering a gift that's appealing to customers and communicating it properly, you can boost both sales and customer satisfaction at the same time.
Finally, the blog article below introduces recommended apps by category, beyond just GWP campaigns — for expanding sales, improving operational efficiency, and more. Please use it as a reference when choosing an app.
