Shopify Flows vs ShipHero: Promo and Free SKU Automation

If you want to automatically add a free or promotional item to orders, we recommend setting that up using Shopify Flows rather than ShipHero Automation Rules. Here is why.

Why Shopify Flows is the better choice

1. Easy to set up with AI assistance

Shopify's Flow builder has a built-in AI tool that helps you create automations quickly. Just describe what you want in plain language and Shopify will draft the flow for you. No technical experience needed.

2. Checks your inventory before adding items

A Shopify Flow can check whether a promotional item is actually in stock before adding it to an order. If the item is unavailable, the flow simply skips it. ShipHero Automation Rules do not have access to your Shopify inventory, so they cannot make this check.

3. Stays accurate if an order is cancelled

If an order is cancelled in Shopify after a ShipHero rule has already added a free item to it, that item will remain on the order in ShipHero even though the order no longer exists in Shopify. This can cause inventory and fulfillment issues. Shopify Flows operate entirely within Shopify, so if an order is cancelled, everything updates correctly.

4. Works with more conditions

Shopify Flows give you a wide range of options for when and how a promotion triggers, including order value, discount codes, customer tags, product types, and more. ShipHero rules are more limited in what they can detect about an order.

5. Keeps everything in one place

When your promotion logic lives in Shopify, it is visible to your entire workflow from the moment an order is placed. Rules set up only in ShipHero are not visible in Shopify and can only be updated by your Manifest Account Manager. Setting up the logic via Shopify Flows give you much more control.