FreeDrop vs Happy Birthday Emails by UWfor Shopify (2026)
FreeDrop and Happy Birthday Emails by UW are both Shopify apps within the Giveaways and Contests category, but they cater to distinctly different marketing strategies. FreeDrop focuses on gamified marketing to capture user information and drive immediate conversions through interactive games and discount codes. It aims to improve signup rates and purchase conversions using a dynamic and engaging approach. In contrast, Happy Birthday Emails by UW centers on building customer loyalty and repeat purchases by automating personalized birthday emails with discounts. It's designed for nurturing long-term relationships and gathering customer demographic data, primarily focusing on retention rather than immediate acquisition. The key difference lies in their approach to promotions and customer engagement. FreeDrop is proactive, using games to entice users to share their information in exchange for discount opportunities. Happy Birthday Emails by UW is reactive, capitalizing on a customer's birthday to foster goodwill and encourage repeat business. While both apps leverage discounts, FreeDrop uses them as immediate incentives within a game context, while Happy Birthday Emails uses them as a personalized gift to celebrate a customer's special day. The choice between them hinges on whether a merchant prioritizes rapid acquisition through gamification or long-term loyalty building through personalized birthday promotions.
At a Glance
FreeDrop
3 reviews
Happy Birthday Emails by UW
141 reviews
Detailed Overview
FreeDrop
Gamify your marketing and discount codes. Improve your conversions, both purchases and signups.
Key Features
- Up to 4 different game types
- Game widget automatically embeds in your site. Just provide the game ID
- Winners receive a unique, one time use, coupon code
- Get detailed analytics on promo participation and discount code usage
- Gain access to all of the emails and phone numbers from users who signed up
Happy Birthday Emails by UW
Send a birthday email with a discount to build loyalty and repeat purchases
Key Features
- Send birthday emails with personalised messages and discounts
- Run a birthday loyalty campaign with zero ongoing effort
- Collect birthdays and age data at checkout, POS, or landing pages
- Works with your email platform or sends happy birthday emails for you
- Populates Shopify’s customer birthday metafield
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Rating FreeDrop5/5 Happy Birthday Emails by UW5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 3 | 141 |
Reviews FreeDrop3 Happy Birthday Emails by UW141 | ||
| Focus | Customer Acquisition & Conversion | Customer Retention & Loyalty |
Focus FreeDropCustomer Acquisition & Conversion Happy Birthday Emails by UWCustomer Retention & Loyalty | ||
| Marketing Method | Gamification | Personalized Birthday Emails |
Marketing Method FreeDropGamification Happy Birthday Emails by UWPersonalized Birthday Emails | ||
| Data Collection | Email & Phone Numbers (during game) | Birthdays & Age (checkout, POS, landing pages) |
Data Collection FreeDropEmail & Phone Numbers (during game) Happy Birthday Emails by UWBirthdays & Age (checkout, POS, landing pages) | ||
| Discount Delivery | Unique, one-time use coupon codes (game winners) | Personalized email discount |
Discount Delivery FreeDropUnique, one-time use coupon codes (game winners) Happy Birthday Emails by UWPersonalized email discount | ||
| Target Merchant | Businesses needing signup/conversion boosts | Businesses focusing on long-term customer relationships |
Target Merchant FreeDropBusinesses needing signup/conversion boosts Happy Birthday Emails by UWBusinesses focusing on long-term customer relationships | ||
| Implementation Effort | Embed widget, configure game | Collect birthday data, customize emails |
Implementation Effort FreeDropEmbed widget, configure game Happy Birthday Emails by UWCollect birthday data, customize emails | ||
Our Verdict
For merchants struggling with lead generation and looking for an engaging way to capture user information and drive immediate sales, FreeDrop is a more suitable option. Its gamified approach can be highly effective in attracting new customers and converting them into paying users. However, the limited number of reviews (3) suggests it may be a newer or less widely adopted app.
Happy Birthday Emails by UW is ideal for merchants focused on building long-term customer loyalty and increasing repeat purchases. The app's automation and personalization features provide a hands-off approach to celebrating customer birthdays and nurturing relationships. The significantly higher number of reviews (141) inspires more confidence in its reliability and effectiveness.
Common Questions
Which app is easier to set up?
Both apps appear to have relatively straightforward setup processes. FreeDrop requires embedding a widget and configuring the game, while Happy Birthday Emails by UW requires collecting birthday data and customizing emails. The complexity depends on the merchant's technical skills and the amount of customization desired.
Which app provides better analytics?
FreeDrop provides detailed analytics on promo participation and discount code usage, focusing on game performance. Happy Birthday Emails by UW provides insight into customer age and anniversaries. The 'better' analytics depend on the merchant's specific marketing goals. If the goal is understanding game performance, FreeDrop wins. If it's demographic data, Happy Birthday Emails is better.
Which app is more effective for acquiring new email subscribers?
FreeDrop is explicitly designed to acquire new email subscribers by requiring users to provide their information to enter the game. Happy Birthday Emails by UW relies on collecting birthday data during checkout, POS transactions or landing pages, not necessarily acquiring brand new subscribers.
Which app offers better long-term value?
Happy Birthday Emails by UW offers better long-term value for merchants focused on customer retention and building lasting relationships. Birthday emails contribute to customer loyalty, which drives repeat purchases and increases customer lifetime value. FreeDrop focuses on immediate conversions which might not necessarily build loyalty.
If I only have budget for one app, which should I choose?
If you are struggling to acquire new customers and increase your email list signups, choose FreeDrop. If you already have a customer base and want to improve loyalty and retention, Happy Birthday Emails by UW is the better choice. Consider your biggest pain point and your current marketing strategy.
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