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7 min readBilling & Invoicing

How to Create and Use Coupon Codes for Your Customers

Create coupons and promotion codes in Stripe, then let customers apply them automatically on the subscription page or during Stripe checkout.

Coupon codes let you offer percentage discounts, fixed-amount discounts, or time-limited promotions to your customers.

There is nothing to configure in the platform itself. Coupon support is already built in. You create the coupons and promotion codes in Stripe, and customers can use them on the subscription page or during Stripe checkout.

How to create a coupon in Stripe

Start in your Stripe Dashboard by creating the underlying coupon. The coupon defines the discount itself.

  • Log into your Stripe account at `dashboard.stripe.com`
  • In the left sidebar, click `More +`, then click `Product catalog`
  • Open the `Coupons` tab at the top
  • Click `+ New` to create a new coupon
  • Choose the coupon type: percentage discount or fixed amount discount
  • Choose the duration: `Once`, `Repeating`, or `Forever`
  • Optionally set redemption limits or an expiration date
  • Click `Create coupon`
Worth knowing

After the coupon is created, Stripe shows the Promotion Code area. The coupon defines the discount, but the promotion code is what the customer actually types.

How to create a promotion code

A promotion code is the customer-facing code that applies the coupon discount. You can create more than one promotion code for a single coupon if you want to track different campaigns separately.

  • Open the coupon you just created
  • Under the `Codes` section, click `+ New code`
  • Enter the code customers should type, such as `SAVE20`, `LAUNCH20`, or `PARTNER`
  • Optionally limit it to first-time orders only
  • Optionally set maximum redemptions
  • Optionally set an expiration date
  • Optionally require a minimum order amount
  • Optionally restrict the code to eligible customers
  • Click `Create code`

Where customers can use coupon codes

Customers can apply coupon codes in two different places, and both paths work automatically once the Stripe coupon and promotion code exist.

Where the code is usedWhat happens
Subscription page inside your platformCustomers can enter a code in the `Have a coupon code?` field, apply it, and see discounted pricing before subscribing
Stripe checkout pageCustomers can enter the promotion code during checkout whether they came from the subscription page, a payment link, or a generated checkout session

Using coupon codes on the subscription page

When customers visit the subscription page to choose a plan, they can enter a promotion code in the `Have a coupon code?` field and click `Apply`.

The discounted pricing is then shown across the available plans before they subscribe.

If they already have an active subscription, they can still apply a coupon from the same page and the discount takes effect on the next invoice.

  • Customers can apply a code before subscribing
  • Customers with an active subscription can still apply a code later
  • Customers can remove an applied code and switch to a different one

Using coupon codes on Stripe checkout

If the customer goes through Stripe checkout, Stripe shows the promotion-code field as part of the checkout flow.

This works automatically for checkout launched from the subscription page, a Stripe Payment Link you shared, or a checkout session generated from the `Manage Customer` page.

Tips for using coupons effectively

  • Use onboarding discounts such as a forever discount for early customers or beta users
  • Use limited-time promotions with an expiration date for launch campaigns or seasonal offers
  • Create separate partner codes tied to the same coupon so you can track referral sources
  • Use once-only win-back offers for cancelled customers you want to bring back

Tracking coupon usage

You can track coupon performance directly in Stripe.

  • Go to `dashboard.stripe.com`
  • Navigate to `More + -> Product catalog -> Coupons`
  • Open any coupon to see redemptions, customers who used it, and active promotion codes

Common questions