# RewardCart

> Reference guides to Shopify cart rewards: tier design, progress bars, reward rules, the apps that run them and how to test and measure them.

RewardCart explains how spend- and quantity-based cart rewards work on Shopify, from tier spacing and progress-bar messages to Shopify discount limits. Guides separate platform facts, documented app behavior and editorial recommendations.

## Primary documents

- [Home](https://rewardcart.info/)
- [Research index](https://rewardcart.info/research/)
- [Topics](https://rewardcart.info/research/topics/)
- [Methodology](https://rewardcart.info/methodology/)
- [Vendor directory](https://rewardcart.info/vendors/)
- [About](https://rewardcart.info/about/)

## Research topics

- [Reward ladders](https://rewardcart.info/research/topics/reward-ladders/): Anchor the first tier just above your typical order, space later tiers so each is reachable with one more item, and decide whether rewards stack before you configure anything.
- [Progress bars & messages](https://rewardcart.info/research/topics/progress-bars/): A progress bar should state the next reward and the remaining amount using the same calculation the reward rule uses.
- [Reward rules](https://rewardcart.info/research/topics/reward-rules/): Write the qualifying rule in one sentence, including which items count and who is eligible, before choosing a trigger type.
- [Reward apps](https://rewardcart.info/research/topics/reward-apps/): Shortlist apps by the reward mechanics they document, then confirm the plan, theme and checkout conditions for your store.
- [Operations & measurement](https://rewardcart.info/research/topics/reward-operations/): Count active automatic discounts, test both sides of every threshold and record which orders received each reward.

## Research

- [How far apart should cart reward tiers be?](https://rewardcart.info/research/space-cart-reward-tiers/): Space cart reward tiers about one typical add-on apart, starting just above where orders cluster, so each next reward is reachable with one more item; doubling thresholds usually leaves upper tiers unreached.
- [How many reward tiers should a Shopify cart have?](https://rewardcart.info/research/how-many-cart-reward-tiers/): Most Shopify stores should start with two or three cart reward tiers: enough to give shoppers a next goal, few enough to stock, explain and test; add a tier only when order values spread widely above the current top tier.
- [Should cart reward tiers stack or replace each other?](https://rewardcart.info/research/stack-or-replace-tier-rewards/): Stacking lets shoppers keep every tier’s reward and feels generous but raises top-tier cost; replacing keeps only the highest reward and is cheaper and simpler; Monk Commerce and BOGOS document both behaviors.
- [What is a tiered cart reward on Shopify?](https://rewardcart.info/research/what-is-a-tiered-cart-reward/): A tiered cart reward is a ladder of cart thresholds, each unlocking a reward such as free shipping, a gift or a discount, usually shown with a progress bar; on Shopify, apps run the ladder because native discounts do not add reward items.
- [Which reward should each tier unlock: free shipping, a gift or a discount?](https://rewardcart.info/research/reward-type-per-tier/): A common pattern is free shipping at the first tier, a low-cost gift at the middle tier and a higher-value gift or choice at the top, because shipping removes the most common objection and gifts cost less than equivalent discounts.
- [How do cart reward thresholds work across currencies?](https://rewardcart.info/research/progress-bar-multiple-currencies/): Shopify converts fixed amounts from the store currency at checkout exchange rates, so a converted threshold can drift and look odd; per-market thresholds, documented by Monk Commerce, Appal and others, keep amounts clean and stable.
- [How should progress bar messages be worded?](https://rewardcart.info/research/progress-bar-message-copy/): Progress bar messages work best when they lead with the remaining amount, name the specific reward, use the shopper’s currency, mention exclusions plainly and confirm unlocked rewards; keep each message to one short line.
- [What should a cart progress bar show at each stage?](https://rewardcart.info/research/what-cart-progress-bar-should-show/): A cart progress bar should always show the next reward and the exact remaining amount, confirm each unlocked reward by name, and switch to a clear “all rewards unlocked” state at the top tier, using the same calculation as the reward rule.
- [Where should a cart reward progress bar appear?](https://rewardcart.info/research/progress-bar-placement/): Place the reward progress bar where shoppers decide to add items: in the cart drawer and cart page first, optionally on product pages or as a sitewide bar; checkout placement is mainly a Shopify Plus option.
- [How should collection-specific spend unlock a cart reward?](https://rewardcart.info/research/collection-spend-rewards/): A collection-spend reward counts only items from chosen collections toward the threshold; use it for launches or category growth, tell shoppers which items count, and test mixed carts where only some items qualify.
- [Should a cart reward unlock by spend or by item count?](https://rewardcart.info/research/spend-or-item-count-rewards/): Use spend thresholds when order value varies widely and margin depends on revenue; use item-count thresholds when products are similarly priced or you want to sell more units, because counts ignore discounts and currency.
- [Should cart rewards be limited to certain customers?](https://rewardcart.info/research/limit-cart-rewards-to-customer-segments/): Limit cart rewards to specific customers only when the reward has a clear purpose, such as first orders, VIPs, wholesale or one market; most apps document tag, segment or location targeting, often on higher plans.
- [Should the cart suggest products to reach the next reward?](https://rewardcart.info/research/suggest-products-next-tier/): Suggesting products priced near the remaining amount helps shoppers reach the next reward without searching; Monk Commerce pairs cart upsells with a tiered progress bar and Donum lists next-reward suggestions on its Pro plan.
- [Can a reward tier let shoppers choose between gifts?](https://rewardcart.info/research/gift-choice-inside-reward-tier/): Yes: Monk Commerce, AppHero, Appal, Donum and EasyGift document letting shoppers pick a gift; in Monk Commerce a single milestone uses either auto-add or a picker, so a common ladder auto-adds at lower tiers and offers a choice at the top.
- [Can cart rewards continue into Shopify checkout?](https://rewardcart.info/research/cart-rewards-into-checkout/): Rewards added in the cart carry into checkout as discounted line items on any plan, and Shopify reprices automatic discounts there; showing or claiming rewards inside checkout is a Shopify Plus capability that Monk Commerce, Kite, Appal and AOV.ai document.
- [Which cart reward apps run on Shopify Functions or native discounts?](https://rewardcart.info/research/cart-rewards-shopify-functions/): Reward apps that price gifts through Shopify Functions or native automatic discounts let Shopify validate the reward at checkout; Monk Commerce documents gifts at a 100% discount with auto-remove, and Kite, EasyGift and Appal state they use Shopify Functions.
- [Which Shopify apps offer tiered cart rewards with a progress bar?](https://rewardcart.info/research/shopify-apps-tiered-cart-rewards/): Monk Commerce, Kite, BOGOS, AppHero, EasyGift, Appal, Donum and AOV.ai all document tiered or milestone cart rewards; they differ in triggers (spend, items, collections), reward types, stacking and which plan includes the progress bar.
- [How do cart rewards count toward Shopify’s 25 automatic discount limit?](https://rewardcart.info/research/automatic-discount-limit-cart-rewards/): Shopify allows 25 active automatic discounts, including app-based discounts, and 5 product or order codes plus 1 shipping code per order; reward ladders can use several slots, so audit active discounts before launching tiers.
- [How do you see which orders earned a cart reward?](https://rewardcart.info/research/track-orders-earned-cart-reward/): Use the reward app’s analytics or exports to see which orders received a reward, and confirm in Shopify orders through the discount applied or line item properties; Monk Commerce, EasyGift and AOV.ai document order-level reporting.
- [How should you test every tier boundary before launch?](https://rewardcart.info/research/tier-boundary-test-matrix/): Test each tier with carts just below, at and above its threshold, then with a discount code, in each currency, with the reward out of stock and after removing items; record rewards, prices and messages in the cart and at checkout.

## Vendor profiles

- [Monk Commerce](https://rewardcart.info/vendors/monk-commerce/): Free gifts, tiered progress bars, BOGO, bundles and upsells documented in one Shopify app.
- [Kite](https://rewardcart.info/vendors/kite/): Discount and gift app built on Shopify Functions, with threshold gifts, tiered discounts and progress bars.
- [BOGOS](https://rewardcart.info/vendors/bogos/): Gift, BOGO, bundle and tiered offers with documented POS, headless and subscription integrations.
- [AppHero](https://rewardcart.info/vendors/apphero/): Free gift, BOGO and tiered gift app billed by gifts per month, with auto-add or shopper choice.
- [EasyGift](https://rewardcart.info/vendors/easygift/): Rule-based automatic gift insertion with subtotal, quantity, product, collection and audience triggers.
- [Appal](https://rewardcart.info/vendors/appal/): Discount and free gift app that evaluates rewards with a Shopify Function and sets thresholds per market.
- [Donum](https://rewardcart.info/vendors/donum/): Gift and cart-goal app with test mode, checkout re-verification and next-reward suggestions.
- [AOV.ai](https://rewardcart.info/vendors/aov-ai/): Gift, BOGO and milestone-reward campaigns with gift limits, multipliers and A/B testing on paid plans.

## Feeds

- [RSS](https://rewardcart.info/rss.xml)
- [JSON Feed](https://rewardcart.info/feed.json)