To discount only the first three subscription orders, tick Limit discount to specific recurring cycles on the discount and enter 3 in Number of cycles. The discount then applies to the first order and the next two renewals, and the customer pays full price from the fourth order. OneCode: Stackable Discounts has this setting on both codes and automatic discounts.

Without the setting, a code applies to the first subscription order only, and an automatic discount applies to every renewal.

Example: the code WELCOME20 gives 20% off with Number of cycles set to 3. A customer subscribes to a $30 monthly coffee with the code. They pay $24 for each of their first three orders, and $30 from the fourth order on.

The Subscription recurring limit card, with Limit discount to specific recurring cycles ticked and Number of cycles set to 3

WELCOME20 at checkout on order 1 of 3 of a monthly House coffee subscription. The $30 coffee is $24, and the total is USD $24.00.

Set the number of cycles

  1. Open the discount, or create a new one with the discount types you want.
  2. In Subscription recurring limit, tick Limit discount to specific recurring cycles.
  3. In Number of cycles, enter how many subscription orders get the discount:
    • 3 covers the first three subscription orders, counting the first order.
    • 1 covers the first order only.
    • 0 covers every renewal, with no limit.
  4. Click Save discount.

If you tick the box and leave Number of cycles empty, the discount won’t save until you enter a number or untick the box.

You still need a subscription app to sell subscriptions. OneCode decides which subscription orders get the discount, and the subscription app creates those orders.

Leave subscription items out of a discount

To run a sale that skips subscriptions, open the product discount, click Add exclusions, and tick Exclude subscription items. One-time purchases still get the discount. Any item bought with a Shopify purchase option is left out, which includes subscriptions and preorders sold through purchase options.

The Exclusions box on a product discount with Exclude subscription items ticked

Discount only subscription items

To discount a product only when it is bought as a subscription, open the product discount, click Add Condition under Per-Discount Conditions, and set Field to Item has subscription, Operator to Is, and Value to Yes. One-time purchases of the same product stay at full price.

OneCode costs $9.90 USD every 30 days after a 7-day free trial, billed by Shopify. Install it from the Shopify App Store.