How to set up buy 2 get 1 free on Shopify
To run buy 2 get 1 free on Shopify, create a Buy X get Y discount under Discounts (customer buys 2, customer gets 1 free), or use an app such as Happy Bundle to show the deal on the product page and add all three items to the cart in one click. Both ways are below, step by step.
Option 1: Shopify's Buy X get Y discount (no app)
Shopify's built-in Buy X get Y discount can give one item free when a customer buys two. It works as an automatic discount or as a discount code. These steps follow Shopify's help center, read on 2026-10-20.
- From your Shopify admin, go to Discounts and click Create discount.
- In the Select discount type menu, click Buy X get Y.
- Under Method, choose Automatic discount (applied in the cart) or Discount code (the customer types it at checkout).
- Under Customer buys, select Minimum quantity of items, enter 2, and add the products or collections the deal is for.
- Under Customer gets, enter 1, add the same products or collections, and under At a discounted value select Free.
- Optional: check Set the maximum number of uses per order and enter 1 if a customer should get only one free item per order.
- Set the dates and combinations, then save.
Limits, in Shopify's words: "Customers must add all items to their cart manually. The free or discounted 'get' item is never automatically added to the cart." There is no widget either, so shoppers only learn about the deal if your product page or a banner tells them. Source: Shopify Help Center, Buy X get Y discounts.
Option 2: show the deal on the product page with an app
An app is worth it when you want shoppers to see and choose the deal on the product page they are already on. With Happy Bundle, buy 2 get 1 free is a tier in a quantity break: a tier of 3 items with 1 free unit. You can put it next to other tiers, for example Buy 2, save 10%.
- Install Happy Bundle and turn on its app embed in your theme editor.
- Create a quantity break on your product, add a tier of 3 items and set it to 1 free unit.
- Check the live preview and publish.
When a shopper chooses the tier, all three items go into the cart at once, each in the size and color they picked. The cheapest of the three is free, taken off as a discount in the cart and at checkout. See BOGO in Happy Bundle for buy one get one free and the second item at half price.
Built-in discount or app
| Shopify Buy X get Y | Happy Bundle | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Included in Shopify | Free forever for stores that install now |
| Deal shown on the product page | No, add your own text | Yes, next to the add to cart button |
| Free item added to the cart | No, the customer adds all three | Yes, all three in one click |
| A different size or color for each item | Yes, if the customer adds each one | Yes, picked in the deal |
| Other tiers on the same product (Buy 2, save 10%) | One discount per tier | Yes, in one offer |
| Works with discount codes | Set in the discount's combinations | Yes, when the code is set to combine with product discounts |
Shopify column: Shopify Help Center, Buy X get Y discounts, read on 2026-10-20.
Questions merchants ask
How do I do buy 2 get 1 free on Shopify?
Create a Buy X get Y discount under Discounts: customer buys a minimum quantity of 2 items, customer gets 1 item at Free. Shoppers add all three items to the cart themselves. To show the deal on the product page and add the items for the shopper, use an app such as Happy Bundle.
Is buy 2 get 1 free the same as 3 for 2?
Yes. Buy 2 get 1 free, 3 for 2 and buy 3, pay for 2 all mean the shopper takes three items and pays for two.
Which item is free in a buy 2 get 1 free deal?
In Happy Bundle, the cheapest item in the tier is the free one, so a shopper who mixes sizes gets the lowest priced item free.
Is the free item added to the cart automatically?
Not with Shopify's own Buy X get Y discount: Shopify's help center says the get item is never automatically added to the cart. With Happy Bundle, choosing the tier adds all three items at once.
Can customers still use a discount code with buy 2 get 1 free?
Yes, with Happy Bundle an order discount code or a free shipping code applies on top when the code is set to combine with product discounts. See discount codes and bundles.
Is there a free buy 2 get 1 free app for Shopify?
Yes. Happy Bundle is free forever for stores that install now, with every feature: buy 2 get 1 free, buy one get one free, quantity breaks, bundles and free gifts, shown on the product page, with no revenue cap.
Read next
- BOGO in Happy BundleBuy one get one free and more
- Bundles without an appEvery native option
- Free bundle appsWhat each free plan includes
What merchants say
Reviews left on the Happy Bundle listing in the Shopify App Store.
User friendly, super useful, and developers are kind and responsive.
Highly recommended
Excellent app and outstanding customer support!
I'm very impressed with the support team behind Happy Bundle. …
They fixed the cart display, helped with the design colors, and even developed a new "Repeat packs" feature based on our feedback.
It's rare to find such responsive and dedicated support, especially for a free app.
Highly recommended!
Try Happy Bundle on your store
Install it from the Shopify App Store and create your first offer. Free forever for stores that install now. Every feature, no revenue cap. If paid plans come later, they are only for new stores. Yours stays free.
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