Cart Drawer: Limit Free Shipping to Standard Delivery, Not Express
This article explains why a free shipping spend tier can apply to express or priority rates, and how to limit it to standard shipping only.
Why free shipping applies to every rate by default
A spend tier with the reward type Shipping Discount frees the whole delivery group once a customer reaches the threshold. This means every rate in that group, including express and priority, becomes free at checkout. The app does not know which rate is your "standard" option and which is "express" — it only sees prices.
The app applies a discount on top of your shipping rates. It does not set or manage shipping rates itself. Shopify controls the rates; the app decides which of them the discount reaches.
Limit the discount to standard shipping
Use the per-tier setting Exclude shipping rates over amount to cap the discount by price. Rates at or under the amount you enter become free. Rates above it are left untouched.
Where to find it
- Go to Essential Cart Drawer.
- Open Spend tiers.
- Select the tier using the Shipping Discount reward type.
- Turn on Exclude shipping rates over amount.
- Enter a value in the field.
Choosing the right amount
Set the value above your standard shipping cost and below your express shipping cost. This lets the discount cover standard rates only.
| Example rate | Cost | Exclusion set to $12 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard shipping | $8 | Free (at or under $12) |
| Express shipping | $18 | Stays paid (over $12) |
This is a price cap, not a named exclusion. If your standard rate ever costs more than the amount you enter, it stops qualifying for free shipping too.
Alternative: use a visual-only tier
If you don't want the app to touch shipping rates at all, use a Visual Only tier instead of Shipping Discount. This shows the progress bar and messaging in the cart drawer without applying any discount. Shopify continues to manage every rate as configured in your shipping settings.
Limitations
| Limitation | Detail |
|---|---|
| No exclusion by name | You cannot exclude a shipping method by its name, such as "Express" or "Priority." Exclusion works by price only. |
| Variable rates | If your rates vary by weight or destination, a single price cap may not separate standard from express reliably. |
| Default behaviour | Without the exclusion setting turned on, the free shipping discount applies to every rate in the delivery group. |
| Feature request logged | Excluding a specific shipping option by name, rather than by price, is not available yet. This has been logged as a feature request. |
Common misconceptions
The app cannot exclude a named shipping method directly. It only works by price cap.
Setting a dollar threshold on its own does not limit free shipping to standard. You must also turn on Exclude shipping rates over amount and enter a value.
The app's discount does not read or respect free-shipping rules you've set inside Shopify's own shipping settings. The two systems work independently.
The app never sets shipping rates. It applies a discount on top of the rates Shopify already calculates.