Can I list a product with a price of zero?

Short answer: it depends on whether the order is paid online or via cash.

Free items in a paid cart — yes

You can add a free product to a cart that also contains paid items. Examples:

• A free gift bundled with a paid product.
• A "buy one, get one free" promotion via a discount code.
• A free sample SKU shoppers can add manually.

As long as the total order value is greater than zero, every payment gateway processes the order normally.

Cart total of zero with online payment — not supported

If the entire cart subtotal is zero and the customer picks an online gateway, the order cannot be processed. This is because payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, etc.) impose a minimum transaction amount — usually 1 in the currency's smallest unit. They will reject a zero-amount charge.

Cart total of zero — what to do instead

• Enable Cash on Delivery (COD) — COD does not go through a gateway, so a zero-total order can be placed (you simply hand over the item).
• Create a manual order — collect the customer's address with a "free sample" form (or any contact method) outside the cart, then create the order for them from your admin so no gateway charge is needed.
• Use a gift card — issue a gift card to the customer for the product's value; they redeem it at checkout to cover the total.
• Run a "buy X get Y free" promotion — set up a discount code that adds the free item to a cart that already contains a paid product, keeping the order total above zero.
• Charge 1 cent — price the product at $0.01 so the gateway accepts the charge.

Free shipping for free items

If you ship a free product on its own (or in a cart that triggers free shipping), set up a free-shipping rate under Settings → Shipping & Delivery so the customer pays nothing.

FAQ

Why does the gateway reject zero-amount charges?

Card networks and processors require a minimum charge to validate the card and pass authorisation rules. A zero-value transaction does not pass these checks.

Can I give away one free product with every paid order?

Yes — create a discount that adds a free product to the cart when the cart total exceeds a threshold. Or use a "buy X get Y free" promotion app from the marketplace.

How do I give a refund that brings the order total to zero?

A refund does not need to go through the gateway. From the order page click Refund and enter the refund amount. The original payment stays on file; only the refund flows back.

Does this apply to digital products?

Yes — same rules. A digital product priced at zero cannot be checked out through an online gateway, but it can be delivered via COD ($0 collected) or a manual order.

Can subscription products be free?

No — subscription billing requires a recurring charge. A free trial is supported instead: a paid plan with the first N days free.