9 Best discount strategies for Shopify stores [2025]

There's something magic about a good discount, isn't there? Buyers love seeing they’ve got a deal, and Shopify merchants love seeing orders pile up.

But let's face it: not all discounts are created equal. The right approach to discounting avoids hurting your profits while encouraging your customers to spend more. 

So, what really works? That's what we're uncovering today—the most effective discount strategies Shopify store owners need right now.

1. Quantity-Based Discounts (Volume Pricing)

Quantity-based discounts offer your customers a better price per item if they buy more. This strategy boosts the average order value (AOV)—helping you grow revenue without more traffic. Customers benefit from clear, obvious savings, making them likely to add more products to the cart.

The trick with volume pricing? Clear, visible widgets or pop-ups showing exactly what customers save with more units. Apps like Quantity X effortlessly integrate these widgets at checkout, cart, or product pages, instantly highlighting real-time savings to your buyers.

2. Buy One Get One (BOGO) Offers

The timeless BOGO deals (Buy One, Get One free or discounted) remain wildly popular, and for good reason. Customers can instantly see value—often prompting impulse buys or higher-priced selections.

Implementing BOGO means strategically pairing products. Consider complementary items customers naturally buy together—like shoes with socks, phones with cases, or coffee makers with coffee beans. These pairings feel natural to customers, simplifying their decision-making while helping you upsell smoothly.

3. Tiered Discount Pricing

Tiered discounts increase savings with every spending threshold the customer hits. For instance, your Shopify store might offer:

• Spend $50, save 5%

• Spend $100, save 10%

• Spend $150+, save 15%

This method incentivizes shoppers to buy more, systematically increasing their spending to reach bigger discounts. Clearly displaying tier discounts on product and checkout pages encourages customers to stretch their budget. Shopify merchants using tiered discounts have seen drastically increased cart values without incurring significant marketing costs.

4. Limited-Time & Urgency-Based Discounts

Urgency is a powerful motivator. If customers feel they'll miss out by waiting, they're much more likely to buy right away. Adding countdown timers or running clearly communicated, limited-time flash sales create urgency, driving buyers to take quick action.

Whether it's a weekend special or hourly deal, clearly communicate the ending time. Shopify merchants often find that unexpected spikes follow urgent promotions—as customers rush to secure special prices.

5. Discount Bundles

Discount bundles group multiple items at a slightly lower price compared to buying products separately. This encourages larger cart orders with higher overall value.

Select items that naturally fit together. For example, skincare merchants can bundle facial cleanser, moisturizer, and toner as a convenient skincare kit. Clear, visual widgets showing specific savings when bundled communicate value immediately and ensure shoppers easily understand the deal.

6. Percentage vs. Fixed-Dollar Discounts

There’s an ongoing debate between offering percentage-based or fixed-dollar discounts. The truth? Both have their place. Percentage discounts can feel more significant on higher-priced items, while dollar discounts resonate clearly with lower-priced or everyday products.

Experiments conducted by marketing platforms show percentage discounts usually lure shoppers better on items over $100, whereas smaller, fixed discounts (for example, “$10 off your next coffee subscription”) feel more meaningful for lower-priced items. Evaluate your product range carefully and test both methods for clear results.

7. First-Time Buyer Discounts

Offering a special deal for customers’ first purchases can hook new visitors, turning them into buyers quickly. A small incentive—like 10% off your first order or free shipping—can reduce hesitation from new shoppers worried about commitment.

These discounts work best paired with opt-ins, capturing new subscriber emails and boosting your overall marketing list quality. It becomes a valuable tool for Shopify store acquisition strategies.

8. Abandoned Cart Discounts

Did you know roughly 70.19% of Shopify shopping carts are abandoned? Targeted discounts sent automatically via email to shoppers who abandoned their carts can help you recover potentially lost revenue.

An automated recovery email offering 10% or free shipping is sometimes enough to lure customers back, completing their orders without needing new spending on customer acquisition. It's tangible, effective, and simple to execute with tools readily available for Shopify merchants.

9. Free Shipping Threshold Discounts

Shoppers clearly hate paying extra for shipping—so setting a reasonable threshold for free shipping can quickly increase your average order value. Customers will happily spend more if they avoid shipping fees altogether.

Clearly communicate threshold incentives throughout your Shopify store—on product pages, banners, or cart reminders—to ensure customers always recognize the potential to leverage this special offer.

Optimizing Discounts with the Right Tools

Fine-tuning discounts isn’t guesswork—it’s a carefully measured strategy supported by the right technology. Utilizing dedicated Shopify apps like Quantity X simplifies everything from creating and displaying quantity breaks and volume discounts, to easily setting up visual discount promotions visible at key buyer touchpoints.

With Quantity X, Shopify stores effectively manage bundling, quantity breaks, upsell widgets, BOGO promotions, and clear percentage or fixed-dollar discounts effortlessly, without needing extensive design or tech knowledge.