What a cart progress bar does
A cart progress bar shows shoppers how close they are to a reward, usually free shipping. Instead of hoping shoppers remember the threshold from a banner, the cart tells them directly: Spend $12 more to get free shipping. As they add items, the bar fills up and the message changes.
It's a simple, honest nudge. It works best when the reward is real, the threshold is reachable and there are affordable products shoppers can add to close the gap.
Important: the bar shows progress, it doesn't apply the reward
The Reward bar is a progress message only. It does not apply free shipping, discounts or free products at checkout. To give the reward, set up the matching discount or shipping rate in Shopify, using the same minimum as your tier.
| Tier Reward Type | What to set up in Shopify |
|---|---|
| Free shipping | A free shipping discount with a minimum purchase amount (or minimum quantity), or a free shipping rate with an order price condition. |
| Discount | An amount-off or percentage discount in Shopify Discounts with the same minimum requirement. |
| Free product | A Shopify Buy X get Y discount, or a Nexora Free gifts offer, with a matching condition. |
If you pick Free product and add products to that tier's Products list, those products may be added to the cart at their normal price. Leave the list empty unless you've set up your own discount for them.
Your options on Shopify
Shopify lets you offer free shipping above a set amount, either as a free shipping discount (automatic or with a code) or as a shipping rate with a price condition. What Shopify doesn't do on its own is show shoppers, inside the cart, how far they are from that amount. Some themes show a static announcement bar; few show live progress in the cart drawer. That's the gap the Reward bar fills.
Step by step: set up a free shipping progress bar
- Create the reward in Shopify
In Shopify, go to Discounts and create a free shipping discount with a minimum purchase amount, for example $60. Or add a free shipping rate with a minimum order price in your shipping settings.
- Turn on the Reward bar
In Nexora's Cart editor, switch on Reward bar in Main group and click it.
- Choose how progress is counted
Set Count the reward bar based on to Total Value (cart total) or Total Quantity (number of items). Use the same type as your Shopify discount's minimum.
- Set the tier
In Tier 1 Settings, choose Reward Type > Free shipping, set Minimum Amount to 60, edit the Label, and write a Message before complete:
Spend [min_amount] more to get free shipping. - Add more tiers (optional)
Add up to three tiers, for example a Discount tier at a higher amount, each with its own matching Shopify discount.
- Style and save
Under Colors, set Background, Text color, Tier background and Success color. Click Save and test on your store.
Settings reference
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Count the reward bar based on | Total Value or Total Quantity. |
| Reward Type | Free product, Free shipping or Discount. Sets the tier icon and name. |
| Minimum Amount / Minimum Quantity | What's needed to reach the tier. |
| Label | The tier name shown on the bar. |
| Message before complete | Shown until the tier is reached. [min_amount] shows the amount still needed. |
| Colors | Background, Text color, Tier background, Success color. |
Example: two tiers for a skincare store
- Shopify: automatic free shipping discount, minimum purchase $50. Automatic 10% off discount, minimum purchase $100.
- Count the reward bar based on: Total Value.
- Tier 1: Free shipping, Minimum Amount 50, message
Spend [min_amount] more for free shipping. - Tier 2: Discount, Minimum Amount 100, Label
10% off, messageSpend [min_amount] more to unlock 10% off.
If you'd like a gift tier too, set up the gift as a Free gifts offer with a matching condition, and keep the tier's Products list empty.
Tips and common mistakes
- Different numbers in the bar and in Shopify: shoppers see
free shippingbut pay for it. Always use the same minimum in both places. - Shipping zones: if free shipping only applies to some countries, say so in the message, for example
Free UK shipping over £50. - Discount codes: a code can lower the cart total, so test what happens when a shopper uses one near the threshold.
- Unreachable threshold: if most carts are far below it, the message is easy to ignore. Pick an amount a little above your typical order.
- Help shoppers close the gap with cart upsells using Display conditions like Cart value Less than 50.
Frequently asked questions
Does the progress bar give free shipping automatically?
No. It only shows progress and messages. Create a free shipping discount or shipping rate in Shopify with the same minimum so shipping is actually free at checkout.
How many tiers can I add?
Up to three, each with its own Reward Type, minimum and message.
Can progress be based on item count instead of value?
Yes. Set Count the reward bar based on to Total Quantity and use Minimum Quantity for each tier.
What does [min_amount] do?
It's replaced with the amount still needed to reach the tier, so the message updates as the cart changes.
Why was a product added at full price?
Products listed under a Free product tier may be added at their normal price, because the bar doesn't discount them. Leave that list empty, and use a Free gifts offer or a Shopify discount for the gift.
