# Free shipping for military and first responders in Shopify

To give military members and first responders free shipping, tag each verified customer in Shopify, for example `Military` or `FirstResponder`, then create an automatic shipping discount with **Customer tag Contains** and both tags in that one condition. Tagged customers who sign in at checkout get free shipping on every order without a code. Shopify's own free shipping discount can be limited to customer segments, but it has no customer tag condition and makes every eligible rate free. [RM: Advanced Free Shipping](https://apps.shopify.com/better-free-shipping) reads the tag at checkout and lets you choose the rates and the discount, for example free Standard with Express at full price. It costs $9.90 USD every 30 days, with a 7-day free trial, billed by Shopify.

## What the customer gets

In this example the store has two rates: Standard $8.90 and Express $24.90.

- **Qualifies.** A customer tagged `Military` signs in and checks out a $35 cart. Standard and Express are both free. The customer pays $35.
- **Doesn't qualify.** The same customer checks out as a guest. A guest has no tags, so with Standard they pay $35 + $8.90 = $43.90.
- **Doesn't qualify.** A signed-in customer without either tag pays the same $43.90.

## Set it up

1. Verify the customer, then tag them in Shopify admin: open the customer under **Customers** and add the tag `Military` or `FirstResponder`. See Shopify's guide to [using tags](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-admin/productivity-tools/using-tags). If you already use a verification tool that adds tags to customers in Shopify, its tags work the same way.
2. In the app, click **Create Shipping Discount**.
3. Under **Discount method**, choose **Automatic discount**. New discounts start on **Discount code**, and the method can't be changed later. Enter a **Title** such as "Free shipping for military and first responders". Customers see it at checkout.
4. In **Conditions**, click **Add condition** and choose **Customer tag**. Keep **Contains**.
5. Type `Military` and press Enter, then type `FirstResponder` and press Enter. **Contains** matches a customer with any of the tags.
6. In **Discount setup**, set **Delivery type** to **Shipping**, **Which rates** to **All shipping rates** and **Discount value** to **Free**.
7. Click **Create discount**.

![A Customer tag condition set to Contains, with the tag VIP added](/images/customer-tag.png)

The screenshot shows the tag VIP. Type your own tags in its place.

## Include customers who check out as guests

Customer tags only match customers signed in to their account at checkout. Two ways to cover everyone you've verified:

- **Ask them to sign in.** Tell verified customers, in your confirmation email or on your discount page, to sign in at checkout to get free shipping.
- **Use a customer segment.** In Shopify admin, build a [customer segment](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/customers/customer-segmentation) of customers with your `Military` and `FirstResponder` tags under **Customers → Segments**. In the discount, go to **Customers**, choose **Specific customer segments** and pick it, and leave out the **Customer tag** condition. Shopify matches segments by the email or phone number entered at checkout, so a verified customer checking out as a guest with the same email qualifies.

## Variations

- **Free Standard, Express at full price:** set **Which rates** to **Choose specific rates** and select Standard. A tagged customer who picks Express pays $35 + $24.90 = $59.90.
- **Half off shipping:** set **Discount value** to **Percentage** and enter 50. Standard becomes $4.45.
- **Tagged customers over $25:** add **Cart total Is at least 25** in the same rule group. Both must pass.
- **Tagged customers always, everyone else over $100:** open the **⋯** menu on **Conditions**, choose **Add rule group**, and add **Cart total Is at least 100**.
- **Veterans too:** add a `Veteran` tag to the same **Customer tag** condition.

## Good to know

- **To cover several groups,** put every tag in one **Customer tag** condition. Use one Customer tag condition per discount.
- **To give different groups different rewards,** create a separate discount for each, each with its own single tag condition. If a customer qualifies for both, Shopify gives them the one that saves the most.
- **To exclude someone as well,** such as a blocked customer, use a Shopify customer segment that leaves them out.
- **To remove the benefit,** delete the tag from the customer in Shopify admin. Their next checkout pays normal shipping.
- **"Is exactly" works the same as Contains** for customer tags today, so either is fine.
- **To test it,** sign in to a test customer account with the tag. In **Test mode**, also use `ABC123` as the shipping first name.

## Related

- [Free shipping for students and teachers](/guides/free-shipping-for-students-and-teachers.md)
- [Free shipping for staff and ambassadors](/guides/free-shipping-for-staff-and-ambassadors.md)
- [Free shipping for VIP customers](/guides/free-shipping-for-vip-customers.md)
- [Conditional free shipping on Shopify](/conditional-free-shipping.md)

[Install RM: Advanced Free Shipping from the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/better-free-shipping).