Differences Between Shopify Default Gift Cards and Go Gift Cards
While Shopify’s default gift card feature works for basic gifting, it has limitations in customization, scheduling, and customer experience. Go Gift Cards is designed to overcome these gaps — giving merchants more control, flexibility, and branding power to turn gift cards into a sales and loyalty tool.
Feature | Shopify Default Gift Cards | Go Gift Cards App |
|---|---|---|
Cost | Free but limited in features | Affordable plans from $4.99/month with high ROI |
Branding | Minimal customization | Fully customizable to match your store’s look and feel |
Scheduling | Basic, theme-dependent | Advanced, unlimited scheduling for perfect delivery timing |
Personal Messages | Basic text only | Styled, branded, and engaging personal notes |
Gift Types | Digital (email) & POS physical cards | Digital with custom amounts and polished presentation |
Extra Tools | None | Gift registry, branded balance checker, email tracking |
Analytics | Generic sales reports | Tracks delivery and open rates for better follow-up |
Integration | Shopify checkout/POS | Same integration plus enhanced customer experience |
Why Shopify Default Gift Cards Fall Short
Shopify’s gift cards are quick to set up and free, but they’re built for the basics:
Limited visual customization means your brand doesn’t fully shine.
Scheduling and personal messages depend on theme support and are very basic.
No built-in tools for registries, balance checking, or tracking delivery.
Analytics focus on total sales, not how well gift cards are performing as gifts.
Why Merchants Choose Go Gift Cards
Go Gift Cards builds on Shopify’s system but transforms it into a premium gifting experience:
Brand Consistency – Match every part of the gift card process to your store’s style with custom colors, logos, and designs.
Perfect Timing – Schedule delivery for birthdays, holidays, or campaigns with an easy date/time selector.
Engaging Messages – Send beautifully formatted, on-brand personal notes along with the card.