Who doesn’t love buying something and getting it shipped to the door with $0 additional fees? I can guarantee you that free shipping can “hypnotize” customers to hit that “buy” button easily.

But here’s the thing: free shipping can also eat into your profits if you’re not careful. That’s why it’s crucial to have a strategy in place. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to set up free shipping on Shopify, sharing my own tips and tricks along the way.

Let’s get started!

Benefits of Offering Free Shipping for Your Shopify Store

I’ve seen firsthand how offering free shipping can transform a Shopify store. It’s a game-changer, and here’s why:

• Increased Conversion Rates: Free shipping is an enticing offer that helps decrease cart abandonment and increase conversion rates. Customers are more likely to complete their purchases when they see “free shipping” at checkout.
• Improves Customer Satisfaction: Shoppers love feeling like they’re getting a deal. Free shipping makes them happy, and they are more likely to return. I’ve found it also leads to better reviews and word-of-mouth referrals.
• Higher Average Order Value (AOV): By offering free shipping on orders above a certain threshold, you can encourage customers to add more items to their cart, boosting your AOV.
• Competitive Edge: Many shoppers compare stores before buying. If you offer free shipping while your competitors don’t, guess who they’ll choose?
• Simplifies the Buying Process: When shipping costs are removed, customers don’t have to calculate extra fees or second-guess their decision. I’ve found this leads to faster checkouts and more impulse purchases.

How To Set Up Free Shipping in Shopify: A Step-by-step Guide

1. Set Up Free Shipping for All Orders

If you’re wondering how to set up free shipping on Shopify for every order, here’s a simple process:

Step 1: Log into your Shopify Admin and go to Settings 

Step 2: Select Shipping and delivery.

Step 3: Choose the shipping profile you want to adjust

Step 4: Select the zone where you want to offer free shipping, … > Edit rate

Step 5: Set the rate to $0.

Step 6: Save your changes.

This will enable free shipping for all orders, regardless of their total value, and ensure that your customers can benefit from the offer instantly.

2. Set Up Free Shipping Based on Minimum Cost

Wondering how to set up free shipping on Shopify while ensuring you’re covering shipping costs? You can set a minimum order threshold to qualify for free shipping.

Step 1: Choose the shipping zone where you want to offer free shipping.

Step 2: Click Add rate and name it “Free Shipping.”

Step 3: Click on Add conditional pricing

Step 4: Click on Based on order price. Set the minimum price (e.g., orders over $50) to qualify for free shipping.

Step 5: Save your changes.

This method ensures customers who spend a specific amount will enjoy free shipping, protecting your bottom line while still offering an attractive incentive.

3. Set Up Free Shipping Based on Weight

If you offer a variety of products with different weights, you might want to know how to set up free shipping on Shopify based on the weight of your products.

Step 1: Select your shipping zone and click Add rate.

Step 2: Click on Add conditional pricing

Step 3: Click on Based on item weight. Set the weight range (e.g., free shipping for orders under 5kg).

Step 4: Save your settings.

By offering free shipping based on weight, you can provide a more precise solution for your customers, especially when selling products of varying sizes.

4. Set Up Free Shipping for Specific Regions or Countries

If you’re only looking to offer free shipping in certain regions or countries, here’s how to set up free shipping on Shopify for specific locations:

Step 1: Create or edit a Shipping zone.

Step 2: Add the countries or regions where you want to offer free shipping.

Step 3: Click Add rate, and set the rate to $0.

Step 4: Save your changes.

This method is ideal if you only want to offer free shipping within specific geographic areas and manage your shipping costs more effectively.

5. Set Up Free Shipping for a Group of Customers

Offering free shipping for specific customer groups can be a great way to build loyalty. Here’s how to set up free shipping on Shopify for a select group of customers:

Step 1: In Shopify Admin board, click on Discount

Step 2: Create a Discount code by clicking on Add discount

Step 3: Under the Discount type, select Free shipping and apply it to specific customer tags.

Step 4: Adjust the conditions to apply the free shipping code as you wish

Step 5: Save changes.

This allows you to reward loyal or high-value customers with free shipping, improving retention and satisfaction.

6. Set Up Free Shipping Code Or An Automatic Free Shipping Discount

• From your Shopify admin, go to Discounts, click Add discount.

• From the Select discount type menu, click Free shipping.

• In the Method section, select Discount code or Automatic discount.
• In the Title field, enter a name. 
• Set up your country, channels, minimum purchase requirements, customer group, maximum discount uses, and combinations
• Use the calendar in the Active dates section to set the Start date and Start time for the discount.

• Click Save discount.

Setting Free Shipping in Shopify Using Shopify Apps

To further customize your free shipping offers, you can use Shopify apps.

Top 5 Shopify Apps for Free Shipping

1. Easyship – All in One Shipping

This app streamlines your shipping operations by connecting your store to multiple carriers and offering exclusive discounts on shipping rates. It includes automation features to save time on logistics and helps calculate taxes and duties for international orders, making it ideal for businesses with a global reach.

2. Essential Free Shipping Upsell

A great app to increase average order value (AOV) by displaying a free shipping bar that motivates customers to add more items to their cart. It also includes upsell and cross-sell options within the cart to further boost sales. The customizable design ensures the bar aligns with your store’s branding, enhancing the customer experience.

3. Hextom: Free Shipping Bar

Highly popular and easy to use, this app displays a dynamic banner showing customers how close they are to unlocking free shipping. It features progressive messages like “Spend $10 more to get free shipping!” and works well during promotional seasons. Customization options include fonts, colors, and placement to fit seamlessly into your store design.

4. Free Shipping Bear

A simple and effective tool for stores of all sizes, Free Shipping Bear allows you to create free shipping bars tailored to your store’s needs without requiring any coding skills. It’s a great choice for beginners or stores that want a lightweight, no-frills solution to promote free shipping offers.

5. RM: Advanced Free Shipping

This app offers one of the most customizable solutions for setting up free shipping rules. You can create complex rules based on cart value, product types, weight, or even specific customer groups. It’s an excellent choice for stores that need flexibility and precision in their shipping options to meet diverse customer demands.

How to Set Up Free Shipping Using A Shopify Free Shipping App

• Step 1: Install Essential Free Shipping Upsell from the Shopify App Store.
• Step 2: Set a minimum order threshold for free shipping (e.g., $50).
• Step 3: Customize the banner to match your store’s theme.
• Step 4: Activate the banner on your store’s website to notify customers about the free shipping offer.

Setting Up Free Shipping on Shopify: Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Now, I know you might be thinking: “But free shipping cuts into my profits!” And you’re right, it can. But here’s the key: you need to be strategic about it. But every problem has a solution. Here are some of them: 

1. Handling Increased Shipping Costs

Now, free shipping doesn’t mean you don’t pay for shipping. Those costs are still there, and they can eat into your profits if you’re not careful. Here’s how to approach it:

• Build it into your pricing
• Offer free shipping above a certain threshold
• Offer free shipping during sales or for specific products
• Negotiate with shipping carriers

2. Managing Returns with Free Shipping

Free shipping can complicate returns, especially if customers take advantage of the offer.

• Implement a clear return policy
• Offer exchanges or store credits instead of refunds
• Consider charging a restocking fee.

3. Balancing Profit Margins

Free shipping can reduce profit margins, especially for lower-priced items. To balance profitability while offering free shipping, follow these tips:

• Calculate your costs carefully
• Monitor your profit margins closely
• Prioritized offering free shipping on items with higher profit margins
• Upsell and cross-sell

Bottom Line

Now you know how to set up free shipping on Shopify. I hope you use this method strategically to enjoy the benefits while being able to balance your profit margins.

FAQs

1. How can I control shipping costs when offering free shipping on Shopify?

To manage shipping costs, you can slightly increase product prices, set a minimum order threshold for free shipping, or use apps that calculate accurate shipping fees to balance the cost of offering free shipping.

2. Does Shopify support free shipping for international orders?

Yes, you can offer free shipping to specific countries or regions by customizing your shipping zones in the Shopify settings.

3. Can I offer free shipping to a specific group of customers on Shopify?

Yes, you can use customer tags to create groups and apply discount codes for free shipping to those specific groups of customers.

4. How do I set up free shipping for products with varying weights?

You can set up free shipping based on the weight of the products in the Shipping settings of Shopify, creating conditions that offer free shipping for orders within a certain weight range.

5. Does offering free shipping affect my profit margins, and how can I ensure profitability?

Offering free shipping can impact your profit margins if not carefully planned. To ensure profitability, you can adjust product prices, use a minimum order threshold, or analyze shipping costs to determine a sustainable free shipping model.