I would like to run a promotion offering a free item when someone buys 2 or more of a certain item or group of items with the same tag / product type. Any recommendations on how to do this / best app (ideally free or also offering other options too like bundles / promo codes). I have tried to use shopify flow app but the criteria doesnt work for what i need so then requires api / coding. Thanks in advance
Topic summary
A merchant seeks to implement two promotional scenarios: (1) offering a free gift when customers purchase 2+ items from a specific product type/tag, and (2) automatically adding unpublished items (like leaflets) to orders meeting certain criteria for warehouse picking purposes.
Key Requirements:
- Front-end upsell: incentivize multi-item purchases with pre-selected free gifts
- Back-office automation: add non-visible items to orders based on conditions (e.g., first-time purchases)
- Preference for free or multi-functional apps supporting bundles and promo codes
Solutions Proposed:
- Ultimate Discounts + custom JS: Configure discount logic for quantity-based rules, pair with JavaScript to auto-add free items to cart
- Shopify Flow: Can handle back-office automation via API calls without additional apps, though front-end gifting requires more complex setup
- BOGOS: Supports free gifts based on 6 product condition types; now offers a lifetime free plan
- iCart Cart Drawer: Enables rule-based free product offers (manual customer addition required)
Current Status:
The merchant tested Vitals app but found the checkout display confusing (shows deduction across all items rather than specific item). Issue remains unresolved; exploring recommended alternatives.
Hi @Peanut84 ,
Question -
- Do you want to add the gift when the user is adding product to cart? Or do you want to add it post purchase?
- Do you want to add the gift automatically to cart / should the customer add it themselves
Best,
Well actually @Abel_Lesle i have two different scenarios so one would be as an upsell incentivising people to buy 2 or more of a certain product type to get a pre selected free item. But also want a back office automation where we add a leaflet (not published item) to the order when certain items or criteria met (eg first order) for picking purposes but the customer doesnt need to see that.
Thanks in advance for your help
Well actually have two different scenarios so one would be as an upsell incentivising people to buy 2 or more of a product type to get a certain free item. But also want a back office automation where we add a leaflet (not published item) to the order for picking purposes but the customer doesnt need to see that.
Thanks in advance for your help
Hi @Peanut84 , Thanks for clarifying.
i have two different scenarios so one would be as an upsell incentivising people to buy 2 or more of a certain product type to get a pre selected free item
This would need to be setup in 2 parts
- Configuring the discount logic - ie when the free product should get discounted
- Adding free product to cart automatically
We solve for (1) through our app - Ultimate Discounts which allows you to setup rules like how you mentioned and apply the discount only when a certain product type > 2 qty in the user’s cart.
Here’s how that would look like for example on the app’s configuration pane
For (2) - We can write a quick JS script that lives on your theme to add the preselected product to cart when the conditions are matched. (or) alternatively, there are paid apps on the store that do exactly this too if you want to save time.
But also want a back office automation where we add a leaflet (not published item) to the order when certain items or criteria met (eg first order) for picking purposes but the customer doesnt need to see that.
This can be configured through Flows actually and we can help build this logic out. It’s a few fairly straight forward checks + a single call to the Shopify admin API through the flow itself. You don’t need an app for this.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions / further doubts about the solution I shared.
Best,
Hi @Peanut84
I’m Ellie, Shopify promotion expert (5y+ experience).
Using the BOGOS app you can:
Offer a free item when someone buys 2 or more specific products (with conditions applying to 6 product types below)
Not a free app but BOGOS is a cost-saving solution → BOGOS supports Gifts, Discounts, Bundles, and Upsells (all is managed in one app only)
Experience it for 7-day free (4.9 average ratings, 2.600+ reviews)
It’s so lovely of you to Like and Accept as Solution. I’m really appreciated ![]()
Hey @Peanut84
Great question — I totally get what you’re aiming for. Offering a free gift based on purchase quantity from a specific product group is a powerful way to increase AOV and reward your customers!
While Shopify Flow can be a bit limited when it comes to complex rules, this is totally doable with iCart Cart Drawer Cart Upsell — and with no coding needed!
With iCart’s Product Upsell feature, you can: Offer a free product when 2+ qualifying items are in the cart
- Set custom Rules based on product tags, types, or collections
- Add conditions like cart value, item count, etc.
- Display the offer directly in the cart drawer (super visible = more conversions!)
Important note: Once the rules are set, the customer just needs to manually add the free gift to their cart — iCart makes it super easy with a clear CTA inside the cart.
And the best part? iCart isn’t just for free gifts — it also supports bundles, cart countdowns, progress bars, and more to drive more sales and boost engagement.
Feel free to check it out here: iCart Cart Drawer Cart Upsell
You can also check our product guide to get more ideas about the feature. Our product guide link is as follows: Product Upsell Guide
Let me know if you want to set it up — happy to walk you through it!
@Peanut84 Since quite some time has passed since you raised this thread, I’m assuming you’ve already reached at a solution ![]()
If so - can you please share the same and close this thread out so that others who stumble here might also find value.
Best,
Hi All,
Thanks for the support and options. We looked into using Shopify flow but without adding API and lots of code it didn’t seem to like it. We trialled The Vitals app which seemed to offer everything we wanted and lower in cost than some other apps but the checkout shows the value of the free item deducted from all items in the cart versus that one item or as a total reduction which we worry would be confusing so at the moment we haven’t solved the issue but will be exploring other apps you have recommended.
Great to hear back @Peanut84 , I’ve sent a DM to help with this.
Hopefully we’re able to help sort this out ![]()
Hi everyone,
please allow me to share a quick update:
BOGOS now has a lifetime FREE PLAN, so you can offer a free item when someone buys 2 or more of a certain item with the same product type and also try for many other promotion types:
Hey @Peanut84
,
This is achievable with Monk on Shopify. Full disclosure, I’m part of the team.
Monk lets you automatically give a free gift when customers purchase 2 or more of a certain product or items sharing the same tag or product type. You can also create tiered campaigns, combining multiple gifts or thresholds in a single setup.
The app supports promo codes, and free gift selection widgets that can appear in the cart, on the product page, or as a popup. It works without coding and integrates seamlessly with your existing theme and cart, making complex promotions much easier to run.
Monk support team is available 24/5 and can provide assistance with setup or implement custom modifications to meet the specific needs of your store.
Hi there,
You don’t need Flow or custom code for this ![]()
A simpler way is using a BOGO / quantity-based bundle setup that works by tag or product type. Tools like Adoric Bundles & Quantity Breaks handle this natively, are free to install, and don’t require any API work.
I’m happy to explain how to set it up step by step or suggest the best structure for your products.


