Giveaway Gator vs Happy Birthday Emails by UWfor Shopify (2026)
Giveaway Gator and Happy Birthday Emails by UW, while both falling under the 'Giveaways and contests' category on Shopify, cater to very different marketing objectives. Giveaway Gator focuses on short-term promotional bursts through sweepstakes and giveaways, aiming to increase order value and engagement during the promotion period. It features advanced mechanisms like order multipliers, product-specific bonus entries, and bonus entry discount codes, suitable for merchants looking for sophisticated giveaway management. Happy Birthday Emails by UW, on the other hand, centers on long-term customer loyalty by sending automated birthday emails with personalized discounts. Happy Birthday Emails by UW builds stronger customer relationships over time. Its strength lies in automating a personalized birthday loyalty program with minimal ongoing effort, using features like birthday data collection at various touchpoints and integration with email platforms. While Giveaway Gator aims to drive immediate sales and AOV through gamified promotions, Happy Birthday Emails seeks to foster brand loyalty and repeat purchases through a personalized and consistent customer experience. A key differentiator is the level of automation; Happy Birthday Emails automates an entire loyalty program, while Giveaway Gator requires more active management of individual giveaway campaigns.
At a Glance
Giveaway Gator
1 reviews
Happy Birthday Emails by UW
141 reviews
Detailed Overview
Giveaway Gator
Manage giveaways and sweepstakes promotions with ease.
Key Features
- Create, manage and automate multiple giveaways, at the same time.
- Entry badges for product cards & pages that update automatically.
- Create entry-only bonus discount codes to deflect discounts & retain margin.
- Create order multiplier products to increase AOV.
- Give extra entries with order tag bonuses and Shopify Flow actions.
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 Giveaway Gator5/5 Happy Birthday Emails by UW5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 1 | 141 |
Reviews Giveaway Gator1 Happy Birthday Emails by UW141 | ||
| Primary Goal | Drive short-term sales & AOV via giveaways | Build long-term customer loyalty via birthday emails |
Primary Goal Giveaway GatorDrive short-term sales & AOV via giveaways Happy Birthday Emails by UWBuild long-term customer loyalty via birthday emails | ||
| Promotion Type | Sweepstakes & Giveaways | Birthday Discounts |
Promotion Type Giveaway GatorSweepstakes & Giveaways Happy Birthday Emails by UWBirthday Discounts | ||
| Complexity | More complex setup & active management | Simpler setup & largely automated |
Complexity Giveaway GatorMore complex setup & active management Happy Birthday Emails by UWSimpler setup & largely automated | ||
| Integration Focus | Shopify Flow, Order Tags, Email Order Confirmation | Email platform integration, Shopify Metafields |
Integration Focus Giveaway GatorShopify Flow, Order Tags, Email Order Confirmation Happy Birthday Emails by UWEmail platform integration, Shopify Metafields | ||
| Discount Type | Bonus Entry Discount Codes | Personalized Birthday Discounts |
Discount Type Giveaway GatorBonus Entry Discount Codes Happy Birthday Emails by UWPersonalized Birthday Discounts | ||
| Data Collection | Entry totals, Entry history | Birthdays, Age data |
Data Collection Giveaway GatorEntry totals, Entry history Happy Birthday Emails by UWBirthdays, Age data | ||
Our Verdict
For merchants seeking to boost sales during specific periods and willing to actively manage giveaway campaigns with complex rules and multipliers, Giveaway Gator is the better choice. The features for product-specific bonus entries and order multiplier products offer sophisticated control. However, the extremely low review count is a serious concern. Conversely, Happy Birthday Emails by UW is ideal for merchants prioritizing long-term customer relationships and a hands-off approach to loyalty programs. Its automation and focus on personalized birthday discounts make it a good option for busy store owners. Given the established user base and positive reviews of Happy Birthday Emails, it's the safer bet for most merchants seeking a reliable and proven solution, assuming they value long-term customer loyalty more than immediate sales spikes.
Common Questions
Which app requires more active management?
Giveaway Gator likely requires more active management due to its focus on running multiple concurrent giveaway campaigns and utilizing features like product-specific bonus entries and discount codes, which need configuration and monitoring.
Which app is better for long-term customer loyalty?
Happy Birthday Emails by UW is explicitly designed for long-term customer loyalty by automating personalized birthday emails with discounts, fostering stronger relationships over time.
Does either app integrate with Shopify's native email marketing?
Giveaway Gator includes entries in the native Shopify email order confirmation. Happy Birthday Emails by UW works with *your* email platform (existing, not specifically Shopify's).
Which app is more suited for a beginner?
Happy Birthday Emails by UW is likely more suited for beginners due to its simpler setup and largely automated functionality, requiring less hands-on management compared to the more complex giveaway management features of Giveaway Gator.
What is the key difference between the two in terms of promotional strategy?
Giveaway Gator focuses on short-term, gamified promotions to boost immediate sales and AOV, while Happy Birthday Emails prioritizes building a long-term, personalized customer relationship through birthday-themed loyalty programs. One uses urgency and competition, the other uses personal connection.
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