How to earn free Shopify app store credits

Shopify occasionally offers exclusive promotion programs, allowing merchants in select countries to earn free App Store credits.

This article will give you a detailed look at these Shopify App Credit promotions, explaining how they can benefit you as a merchant and how you can earn them when these opportunities arise.

Now, let’s dive right in!

What are the Shopify App Store Credits?

Shopify App Store Credits are special offers that allow new Shopify merchants to earn free credits (up to $500) towards app purchases on the Shopify App Store. 

These promotions help new businesses save on initial investment costs and access powerful apps to enhance their stores. However, they are not always running, and the specific terms and conditions may vary depending on your location and the time of year.

Who is Eligible for the Shopify App Credit Promotions?

To earn App Credits through the Shopify App Store Credit Promotion, you must meet the following criteria:

• Invitation: You have received an invitation to participate in the promotion directly through the Shopify website.
• Required Action: You have completed the specific action outlined in the invitation (e.g., signing up for a Shopify paid trial, upgrading your checkout).
• Payment: You have successfully paid for one billing cycle of an eligible Shopify plan (Basic, Shopify, Advanced, or Retail).
• Location: Your store is located in specific locations (depending on each program, typically the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK).
• Compliance: Your store is in compliance with Shopify's Terms of Service (TOS).

It's important to note that if you change your plan to one that's not eligible, you'll no longer be able to earn or use any App Credits from this promotion.

Note: the Shopify paid trial refers to the Shopify 1 month for $1 offer.

How To Earn Shopify App Credits?

As far as I know, Shopify has offered two main Shopify app credit programs. Here is how to earn them:

Sign up for a Shopify paid trial

By signing up for a Shopify paid trial, you can earn a specific amount of App Store credits, typically ranging from $50 to $100, depending on your location and current promotions.

• Step 1: Head to Shopify.com and click Start Shopify Free Trial, or click Sign up now at the top of the site.

Please note that the ‘Sign up now’ option for the Shopify App Credit Promotions may only be visible on the Shopify website in several locations where the promotion is running.

• Step 2: You can skip the survey if you want to. After that, select where your business will be located and hit the Next button.

• Step 3: Provide your email address to proceed, and your store will be ready in seconds.
• Step 4: Once your Shopify trial has begun, now select a Shopify pricing plan to get a $1 for 1 month deal, which serves as an extended free trial that allows you to try out Shopify for up to 33 days for only $1.

• Step 5: Once you have successfully signed up for the Shopify paid trial, you can get $50 or $100 in App Store credits. These credits can be used to purchase apps and plugins from the Shopify App Store, which can help you enhance your online store’s functionality.

Upgrade Checkout Extensibility

This program is designed to incentivize merchants to upgrade their checkout experience. 

By completing the Checkout Extensibility upgrade for your information, shipping, and payment pages by a specified deadline (May 31st, 2024), you can automatically receive $500 in Shopify App Store credits.

• Step 1: Evaluate your current checkout.liquid customizations and see app recommendations with the customizations report.
• Go to Settings > Checkout to create a draft checkout and customize it with apps.
• Complete your upgrade by publishing the draft as your live checkout.

Important note: 

• If you had a Shopify account with a free trial in the past but have not yet paid for a Shopify plan, you may still be eligible to reactivate your free trial and take advantage of the deal.
• It may take up to 15 days after your first bill for App Credits to be issued. Shopify will notify you via email when the App Credits have been added to your account.
• Each store is eligible for a maximum of one promotional credit; each merchant account can have a maximum of 5 stores.
• The App Credits you receive may vary depending on your store's location. Changing your store's country could affect your eligibility to earn or use App Credits.

How to Redeem Your Shopify App Credits

You can use the earned credits to buy any app or plugin on the Shopify App Store. App Credits can be used for eligible app transactions within 6 months of receiving the notification email. They cannot be applied retroactively to previous purchases.

App Credits Shopify typically expire after 180 days, unless you're on an annual Shopify plan. If your account is canceled or frozen, App Credits may expire after 60 days.

Benefits of the Shopify App Credit Promotions

The Shopify App Store Credits Promotions program allows you to have up to $500 for app purchases. It offers two main benefits for merchants:

• Save on app costs: The credits provide discounts on a variety of essential apps, helping you get your store up and running with powerful functionalities without a hefty initial investment.
• Explore different apps: With free credits, you can experiment with various apps to find the ones that best suit your business needs.

Bottom Line

Now that you know how to earn Shopify App Store credits, pay attention to Shopify announcements of these promotions and take advantage of them to save money while enhancing your store’s functionality with Shopify apps.

Shopify App Store Credit Promotions: FAQs