---
title: "Free shipping for VIP, wholesale or first-time customers"
description: "Customer tags, customer segments and first-order free shipping, and how guest checkouts behave."
url: https://rmewfqxya.us.gleap.help/en/articles/32-free-shipping-for-vip-wholesale-or-first-time-customers
collection: "Guides"
updated: 2026-11-08
language: en
---

# Free shipping for VIP, wholesale or first-time customers

Customer tags, customer segments and first-order free shipping, and how guest checkouts behave.

_Updated November 2026_

**Short answer:** Shopify's free shipping discount can be limited to customer segments, but it still makes every rate free and has no product, location or rate rules. RM: Advanced Free Shipping combines customer targeting with everything else, for example "VIPs get free Standard shipping on any order". Use **Customer tag** for signed-in customers, or **Specific customer segments** to include guests.

## VIP or wholesale customers

**Customer tag** **Contains** VIP, then choose the rates and **Free**.

![A Customer tag condition: Contains VIP](https://staticfiles.us.gleap.ai/p6ad4251a43e13d5e6030fd91/DWxfMW9rja8XuOeDLOjIky5ZlyEVkLTtrriw30aLksfsYxjHh1W4jZhr4RFRjGwCNhwZIKQQCrm.png)

Tags only match customers signed in to their account at checkout. A guest has no tags.

## Everyone except wholesale

**Customer tag** **Does not contain** Wholesale. Guests have no tags, so they qualify, and so does a wholesale customer who checks out as a guest or with another email.

## First-order free shipping, including guests

Don't use **Customer order count** for this, because it only matches signed-in customers. Instead:

1.  In the discount, under **Customers**, choose **Specific customer segments**.
    
2.  Select **Customers who haven't purchased**. Shopify creates this segment for you.
    

![The Customers card with Specific customer segments chosen and Customers who haven't purchased selected](https://staticfiles.us.gleap.ai/p6ad4251a43e13d5e6030fd91/hs4Q3F1GxF4buMAjMGSE5NczRj30rudTWaTqoJKZfV5D4xpacDJqK5JfA2pfithugHls10wp3gk.png)

Shopify matches segments by the email or phone number entered at checkout, so this works for guests too.

## Returning or loyal customers

**Customer order count** **Is at least** 1 for returning customers, or 5 for loyal ones. Signed-in customers only, and test orders don't count.

## VIPs always, everyone else over $100

-   **Rule group 1**: **Customer tag** **Contains** VIP
    
-   **OR Rule group 2**: **Cart total** **Is at least** 100
    

## Good to know

-   Each Customer tag condition checks only its own tags. For "VIP but not Blocked", add **Contains** VIP and **Does not contain** Blocked to the same rule group.
    
-   Loyalty and wholesale apps that tag customers work with **Customer tag**, as long as the tag is on the customer's Shopify profile.
    
-   To test, sign in to a test customer account at checkout.
    

See [Customer tag and customer order count](https://rmewfqxya.us.gleap.help/en/articles/19-customer-tag-and-customer-order-count.md).

## Common questions

**Does free shipping for tagged customers work at guest checkout?**  
No. Tags only match signed-in customers. Use a customer segment to include guests.

**How do I give free shipping on a customer's first order?**  
Under **Customers**, choose **Specific customer segments** and select **Customers who haven't purchased**. It works for guests too.

**Can I exclude wholesale customers from free shipping?**  
Yes, with **Customer tag** **Does not contain** Wholesale. Wholesale customers need to be signed in for it to exclude them.

**Can VIPs get free standard shipping but pay for express?**  
Yes. Combine a **Customer tag** condition with **Choose specific rates**.