Shopify guide · Discount Rules
How to offer free shipping on standard shipping only in Shopify
Updated
Short answer
For a simple "free standard shipping over $75", add a free rate with an order price condition in your shipping settings. Shopify's free shipping discount works differently: it makes every rate free, express included, and its only limit is excluding rates above a set price. To discount only some rates, for codes, customers, ZIP codes or certain products, you need a shipping discount built on Shopify Functions, such as Toolbench's Discount Rules.
How to do it with Toolbench
A shipping discount in Toolbench's Discount Rules takes a percentage or a fixed amount off only the shipping rates you choose, by rate name or delivery method, and 100% off makes them free. It applies when your conditions match: the cart subtotal, item count or weight, the tags, collections, vendors, types or SKUs in the cart, the customer's tags, order count, total spent or B2B status, and the country, state or ZIP code. It runs as a Shopify Function, so it works on every plan, and it can be automatic or a discount code.
- Install Toolbench from the Shopify App Store and choose Premium (it starts with a 14-day free trial).
- Open Discount Rules, click Turn on, and approve the access it asks for.
- Click Create discount and choose Shipping discount.
- Set the value to 100% off to make the rates free, or a smaller percentage or fixed amount.
- Under Shipping rates discounted, add Name contains Standard, using the rate's name as it shows at checkout.
- Under Only when, add Cart subtotal is more than 75 and Country is United States, choose automatic or a code, and save.
Shipping discounts stores build
- Free standard shipping over $75 in the US, with express at full price.
- Free shipping on every rate except overnight for customers tagged VIP.
- $5 off express shipping with a code for one weekend.
- Free local delivery over $50 in certain ZIP codes.
- Half-price shipping for customers buying for a company.
Why this happens
"Free shipping over $75" usually means free standard shipping. When the discount also makes express or overnight free, a $6 rate becomes a $40 one the store pays for.
The same goes for free shipping that should only reach some regions, light parcels, or customers who've earned it.
Your options in Shopify
A free rate with a price condition (Settings > Shipping and delivery)
Add a rate such as "Free standard shipping" at $0 with a minimum order price. It's the simplest fix when the offer is the same for everyone in a zone. It can't be limited to a code, a customer group, dates or certain products.
Free shipping discount
Can require a minimum purchase amount or quantity, be limited to certain countries and to customer segments, and be automatic or a code. When it applies, every available rate is free.
Exclude shipping rates over a certain amount
A checkbox on the free shipping discount. Rates that cost more than the amount you enter stay at full price. It works while express is always the most expensive rate, but it filters by price, not by rate, so a heavy order's standard rate can go over the limit while a light order's express rate falls under it.
You only approve what Discount Rules needs
Toolbench asks for no permissions when you install it. When you turn on Discount Rules, Shopify asks you to approve only what this tool uses: manage the discounts Toolbench creates, and read products.
It doesn't ask for orders, customers, inventory or your shipping rates and settings. Each of Toolbench's other tools asks for its own access separately, and only if you turn that tool on, so you never grant access for tools you don't use. Read access means Toolbench can see that data but can't change it.
Before you turn it on
- A discount lowers a rate's price. To remove a rate from checkout entirely, use a shipping rule instead.
- Shopify allows 25 active app discounts per store, shared by every app that creates them.
- Rates are matched by name, so check the exact names at checkout before you save.
- Customer conditions only apply when the customer is logged in or recognized at checkout.
Pricing
Discount Rules is a Premium tool. Premium is $9.99 a month for all 16 tools and starts with a 14-day free trial. Discounts don't count toward Premium's usage charge, which only counts orders tracked by Order Change History and Cart History.
Questions
Why does my free shipping code make express shipping free too?
Shopify's free shipping discount applies to every rate. Its only limit is excluding rates above a price you set. To make only standard shipping free, add a free rate with an order price condition, or use a shipping discount that picks rates by name.
Can I offer free shipping only to certain customers?
Shopify's free shipping discount can be limited to customer segments. A Toolbench shipping discount can also check customer tags, order count, total spent and B2B status together with the cart and the address.
Can I offer free shipping by ZIP or postal code?
Yes. A shipping discount can check the ZIP or postal code, the state and the country, which Shopify's own free shipping discount can't.
Do I need Shopify Plus for conditional free shipping?
No. App Store apps built on Shopify's discount Functions work on every plan.
What permissions does Discount Rules need?
Only the ones it uses: manage the discounts Toolbench creates, and read products. It doesn't ask for orders, customers, inventory or your shipping rates and settings. Toolbench asks for no permissions at install, and each of its other tools asks for its own access separately, only if you turn that tool on.