Boost AOV with BOGO Shopify: Buy One Get One Free, Done Right

BOGO sales are a retail favourite, and they're especially popular in the world of e-commerce. On Shopify, a BOGO offer is a way not only to interest shoppers, but to encourage them to spend more, so you can ramp up AOV without discounting across the board.

Done well, BOGO Shopify promotions can help you clear stock, create urgency and keep customers returning for more.

Introduction

Buy One Get One (BOGO) offers are a powerful way to drive more sales in e-commerce. “When you give customers an extra item with a purchase, you naturally encourage them to purchase more in return while also marketing your products with an element of excitement,” Swenson notes. A well-run BOGO promotion on Shopify can increase average order value (AOV), move old stock and generate repeat customers.

Define BOGO in Shopify and its value in e‑commerce

On Shopify, these are the BOGO discounts that give your customer a free or reduced item when they purchase a main product. This kills two birds with one stone: it creates value for the customer and your revenue-per-sale. Beyond immediate sales, BOGO offers win the trust and loyalty of customers, who will feel like they are receiving more than what they have spent.

Why BOGO Works

BOGO promotions are effective because they leverage the reward of customers' excitement with the clarity of the business benefits. Increase Conversion – When people feel like they are getting something free, they are more likely to make a purchase. A “Buy One Get One” offer eliminates doubt and compels browsers to become buyers. Purge Inventory – Combine underperforming or seasonal products in a BOGO sale to clear warehouse space without heavily discounting merchandise. Drive Urgency – Time-bound BOGO promotions spark a sense of urgency- making customers buy instantly from stores as they hesitate to delay their purchases. As a whole, these aspects make BOGO one of the most trustworthy Shopify promotions.

Types of BOGO on Shopify

I’m going to show you how to implement BOGO (Buy One Get One) offers and use them to drive revenue. Buy 1 Get 1 Free is a great old standby for fast-turning items. Buy X, Get Y People need to purchase a certain number or value of products before a discount is applied, so this works well if you’re trying to incentivise increased order values. The Mix & Match or “Choose Any” deal allows customers to pick and choose from different items within a category to activate the offer — providing them with flexibility and enabling you to clear a diverse selection of stock. Every version is customizable to meet the goals of your store.

Setting Up Natively

Here’s how to set up a Buy X Get Y discount for Shopify:

Desktop: From your Shopify admin, go to Discounts.

Click Create Discount, and select Buy X Get Y.

Choose the X products or collections that customers have to purchase.

Select the Y-item(s) that will be discounted or free.

Include details such as use limits, eligibility if necessary, and an expiration date.

Save the Promotion and test it to ensure it's working.

Great for basic BOGO deals. But the native setup of Shopify is restrictive — it won’t auto-apply gifts or manage multi-tier promotions without the use of an app.

Using Apps for Automation

For more detailed campaigns, apps provide automation and flexibility. Popular options include:

Monk Free Gift with Purchase –Woland formerly known as WSGAG Plus)–It supports complex BOGO promos, tiered offers, progress bar, and auto add products with next product or for entire purchases.

Quick Bundle – perfect for offering bundle deals, mix and match deals and more.

BOGOS. Monster.com/io – built for BOGOs with targeting capability.

Qikify Upsell & Free Gift – combines BOGO, gifts, bundles, and up-sells all in one.

Promotion & Messaging

Clear banners, emails, urgency tactics—coupons, CTAs

No matter how great the BOGO, it’s not going to convert without clear communication. Use:

Banners and PopUps to promote the offer on product and cart pages.

Email campaigns to inform current customers and promote repeat sales.

Scarcity manoeuvres such as countdown timers, low stock notifications and aggressive CTAs to entice fast action.

Optimization Tips

A/B test bundle combos, track performance, and margin impact

Do some A/B testing of product combinations and offers.

Monitor performance with Shopify analytics or app dashboards.

Review margins to make sure the deal will drive profit, not just sales volume.

Conclusion

On Shopify, a well-run BOGO offer can add to your bottom line in a big way, help you move more merchandise and even fortify your customer base. Shopify’s own Buy X Get Y app doesn’t do too bad a job, but opting for apps such as Bogo Shopify will not only simplify the process but also make it possible to automate, customise, and scale your campaigns. Executed correctly, BOGO isn’t just a sales tool; it is a growth engine for your store.