# Free shipping on a customer's first order in Shopify

To give free shipping on a first order, create a shipping discount and, under **Customers**, choose **Specific customer segments** and select **Customers who haven't purchased**. Shopify creates that [customer segment](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/customers/customer-segmentation) for you and checks it by the email or phone number entered at checkout, so it works for guests too. Shopify's own [free shipping discount](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/discount-types/free-shipping) can use segments as well, but it makes every eligible rate free and has no rate or product rules. [RM: Advanced Free Shipping](https://apps.shopify.com/better-free-shipping) adds those, for example free Standard on a first order over $40. 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. The offer is free shipping on the first order.

- **Qualifies.** A new shopper checks out as a guest with a $45 cart. Their email has no orders, so Standard and Express both show as free. The customer pays $45.
- **Doesn't qualify.** A returning shopper enters an email that already has an order. With Standard, they pay $45 + $8.90 = $53.90.

![Example checkout for a first-time customer with a $45 cart: Standard and Express both show FREE, labeled Free shipping on your first order. Total USD $45.00](/images/checkout-firstorder45.png)

## Set it up

1. In the app, click **Create Shipping Discount**.
2. 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 on your first order".
3. In the **Customers** card, choose **Specific customer segments**. Search for and select **Customers who haven't purchased**.
4. Leave **Conditions** empty, or add a threshold such as **Cart total** **Is at least** 40.
5. In **Discount setup**, set **Delivery type** to **Shipping**, **Which rates** to **All shipping rates** and **Discount value** to **Free**.
6. Click **Create discount**.

![The Customers card with Specific customer segments chosen and the segment Customers who haven't purchased selected](/images/customer-segments.png)

## Variations

- **Free Standard only on the first order:** set **Which rates** to **Choose specific rates** and select Standard. A new customer who picks Express pays $45 + $24.90 = $69.90.
- **A welcome code for your email signup:** choose **Discount code** in step 2 and enter a code such as `WELCOMESHIP`. Under **Maximum discount uses**, tick **Limit to one use per customer**.
- **Free Standard and $10 off Express:** open the **⋯** menu on Discount setup and choose **Add delivery discount**. Select Express and set **Fixed Amount Off** 10. Express becomes $14.90.
- **Only above a threshold:** add **Cart total** **Is at least** 40. A $35 first order pays $35 + $8.90 = $43.90.
- **Returning customers instead:** use the condition **Customer order count** **Is at least** 1. This only matches signed-in customers.

## Good to know

- **To include guests,** use the segment, not **Customer order count**. Order count and customer tag conditions only match customers signed in at checkout.
- **To stop repeat use of a welcome code,** tick **Limit to one use per customer**. Usage limits only exist on discount codes.
- **To test it,** use an email with no orders at checkout. In **Test mode**, also use `ABC123` as the shipping first name. Test orders don't count toward **Customer order count**.
- **To keep it alongside a welcome 10% code,** tick **Shipping discounts** under **Combinations** on that code in Shopify admin. See [keep free shipping with discount codes](/guides/keep-free-shipping-with-discount-codes.md).
- **A shopper whose email already has an order won't get it,** even as a guest. That's the segment working as intended.

## Related

- [Free shipping for VIP customers](/guides/free-shipping-for-vip-customers.md)
- [Free shipping code or automatic discount](/guides/free-shipping-code-or-automatic.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).