# Free shipping for VIP customers in Shopify

To give VIPs free shipping, tag them `VIP` in Shopify, then create an automatic shipping discount with the condition **Customer tag** **Contains** VIP. Signed-in VIPs get free shipping on every order without typing a code. Shopify's own free shipping discount can be limited to customer segments, but it has no customer tag condition and always 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, for example free Standard for VIPs while Express stays paid. The app is $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 VIP signed in to their account checks out a $40 cart. Standard and Express both show as free. The customer pays $40.
- **Doesn't qualify.** The same VIP checks out as a guest. A guest has no tags, so the customer pays $40 + $8.90 = $48.90 with Standard.
- **Doesn't qualify.** A signed-in customer without the tag pays the same $48.90.

![Example checkout for a signed-in VIP customer with a $40 cart: Standard and Express both show FREE, labeled VIP free shipping. Total USD $40.00](/images/checkout-vip40.png)

## Set it up

1. In Shopify admin, open each VIP customer and add the tag `VIP`. See Shopify's guide to [using tags](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-admin/productivity-tools/using-tags). Loyalty apps that tag customers in Shopify work too.
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 "VIP free shipping". Customers see it at checkout.
4. In **Conditions**, click **Add condition** and choose **Customer tag**. Keep **Contains**, then type `VIP` and press Enter, or pick it from the suggestions.
5. In **Discount setup**, set **Delivery type** to **Shipping**, **Which rates** to **All shipping rates** and **Discount value** to **Free**.
6. Click **Create discount**.

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

## Variations

- **VIPs get free Standard, Express stays paid:** set **Which rates** to **Choose specific rates** and select Standard. A VIP who picks Express pays $40 + $24.90 = $64.90.
- **VIPs always, everyone else over $100:** keep the VIP condition in Rule group 1. Open the **⋯** menu on the Conditions card, choose **Add rule group**, and add **Cart total** **Is at least** 100. A non-VIP with a $120 cart ships free, and so does a VIP with a $40 cart.
- **Several loyalty tiers:** add every tag to the same condition, for example `VIP`, `Gold`. **Contains** matches a customer with any of them.
- **A VIP code instead:** choose **Discount code** in step 3 and enter a code such as `VIPSHIP`. Codes can have usage limits, such as **Limit to one use per customer**.
- **Half off shipping for VIPs:** set **Discount value** to **Percentage** and enter 50. Express becomes $12.45.

![Marketing illustration of a checkout with the code VIP SHIPPING applied: subtotal $699.95, and shipping $15.00 crossed out and shown as FREE](/images/vip-shipping-checkout.png)

## Good to know

- **To include VIPs who check out as guests,** use a Shopify [customer segment](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/customers/customer-segmentation/create-customer-segments) of your VIPs. Under **Customers**, choose **Specific customer segments** and pick it. Shopify matches segments by the email or phone number entered at checkout.
- **To combine tag rules,** such as "VIP but not Blocked," use a Shopify customer segment. Keep one Customer tag condition per discount.
- **To test it,** sign in to a test customer account tagged VIP at checkout. In **Test mode**, also use `ABC123` as the shipping first name.
- **To keep VIP free shipping when they use a sale code,** tick **Shipping discounts** under **Combinations** on that code in Shopify admin.
- **"Is exactly" works the same as Contains** for customer tags today, so either is fine.

## Related

- [Free shipping for retail customers, not wholesale](/guides/free-shipping-for-retail-not-wholesale.md)
- [Free shipping on a first order](/guides/free-shipping-on-first-order.md)
- [Free standard shipping, not express](/guides/free-standard-shipping-not-express.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).