Buy 2 get 1 free on Shopify: set up an automatic BOGO discount

"Buy 2, get 1 free" is the classic BOGO (buy one, get one) offer, and Shopify can run it without any code. There are two ways: Shopify's own Buy X get Y discount, or an app that also shows the offer on the product page and in the cart. Here are both, step by step, with what each one leaves out.

Option 1: Shopify's built-in Buy X get Y discount

1. In your Shopify admin go to Discounts → Create discount → Buy X get Y.
2. Choose Automatic discount and give it a title shoppers will see, such as "Buy 2, get 1 free".
3. Under Customer buys, choose Minimum quantity of items, enter 2 and pick the products or collection.
4. Under Customer gets, enter 1, pick the same products or collection, and set the discount to Free (100% off).
5. Optional: set a maximum number of uses per order so one cart can't take unlimited free items.
6. Set combinations and dates, then Save. Test with 2 items (no discount) and 3 items (one free).

What the native discount doesn't do

• Shoppers have to add the free item themselves. The discount applies when the third item is in the cart; nothing adds it or tells the shopper to.
• Nobody sees the offer before the cart. There's no badge or message on the product page unless you edit your theme or write it into the description.
• No "add 1 more to get 1 free" nudge in the cart or cart drawer.

For a short promotion that you announce by email or a banner, the native discount is enough. If the offer should sell itself on the product page, you need something that shows it.

Option 2: an automatic BOGO with Tierwise

Tierwise runs Buy X get Y as a Shopify Functions discount, so Shopify applies it in the cart and checkout like the native one, and it adds the storefront parts:

1. Install Tierwise from the Shopify App Store and open it.
2. In Choose your tiers, pick the Buy 2, get 1 free template and press Use this offer. It runs as an automatic discount across all products (mix and match); to limit it to certain products, press Edit in Shopify and set the products, the Buy and Get quantities, the percentage off (100% = free) and a maximum per order.
3. Press Add to product page, then Save in the theme editor. Product pages now show a "Buy 2, get 1 free" badge with a one-tap button that sets the quantity to 3.
4. Press Check my storefront to confirm shoppers can see it, and turn on cart drawer savings so the cart says "Add 1 more to get 1 free".

The cheapest items in the set are the ones discounted, so a shopper can't pay for two cheap items and take the expensive one free. Full setup with screenshots: Tierwise setup tutorial.

Native vs app, side by side

Make BOGO pay

• Buy 2, get 1 free is 33% off three items. Check that margin works before you launch; "buy 2, get the third 50% off" is a gentler 17%.
• Use it on consumables people will use up (coffee, candles, socks), where three units is a natural order.
• Cap it per order if you sell to resellers.
• Pair it with tiers elsewhere. BOGO on one hero product, quantity breaks on the rest: see quantity breaks vs bundles.

Related: Shopify bundle discounts, free gift with purchase and discount not applying? 7 checks.