Quick answer
Free gift with purchase usually means a Buy X Get Y or threshold discount in Shopify admin. The customer adds the gift manually unless you use a specialized app. Kitforge gift boxes are fixed kits with visible PDP presentation.
- GWP is usually native.
- Gift boxes are fixed kits.
- Kitforge does not auto-add free SKUs.
- Match copy to mechanics.
Setup steps (native)
Create discount, set customer buys / gets, test that both lines appear in cart, verify combination with other discounts.
Document in email and PDP copy exactly how the customer claims the gift — manual add vs automatic threshold.
Threshold vs Buy X Get Y
Minimum purchase automatic discounts reward cart subtotal. Buy X Get Y ties gift to specific qualifying products. Pick the rule that matches your promo story.
Gift box as fixed kit
When the gift is the hero offer — curated box with wrap, card, and products — build a Kitforge fixed kit with standalone URL for gift guides instead of hiding the offer behind a cart rule.
Support and returns
Free gift lines complicate partial returns. State policy when gift was conditional on keeping the qualifying purchase.
Final recommendation
Pick native GWP for simple promos; pick Kitforge fixed kits for curated gift merchandising.
If you want this kind of offer to feel native to the buying journey, Kitforge Bundles is built around that exact problem: turning related Shopify products into clearer bundle offers before the shopper reaches checkout.
FAQ
Can Kitforge auto-add a free gift?
Not as a GWP engine — use fixed kits or FBT add-ons with discount on selected items.