Discounts and promo codes

Codes, links, or API. Once, monthly, or forever.

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Configure a discount with the right shape, the right duration, and the right way to apply it. The same primitive covers public promo codes, private partner deals, and programmatic offers from inside your product.

Three knobs

Every discount in Polar is built from three decisions. The first is shape, which sets how the discount reduces the price: a percentage off the order, or a fixed amount off in the customer's currency.

The second is duration, and it only matters for recurring products. A discount can apply once on the next charge, for a fixed number of months, or forever as long as the subscription keeps renewing.

The third is delivery, which decides who can actually use it. A discount can carry a code customers type at checkout, or no code at all so it can only be applied programmatically through a Checkout Link or the API. That single distinction separates a public Black Friday promotion from a quiet partner deal you don't want indexed.

Restrict by product

Scope discounts to specific products, including ones created later.

Time windows

Set start and end dates so the discount goes live and expires on its own.

Redemption limits

Cap total redemptions to control how widely the discount circulates.

Pinned to a Checkout Link

Auto-apply on a specific link without exposing a code. For partner and influencer deals.

Three ways to apply a discount

Different campaigns need different mechanics. Polar supports all three on the same primitive, without parallel coupon systems.

• Auto-apply via Checkout Link Pin a discount to a Checkout Link and it applies the moment the customer lands. For promotional traffic where you want the deal guaranteed without a code.
• Prefill via query parameter Add discount_code=XYZ to any Checkout Link URL and the field is filled in automatically. The customer can still see and edit the value, which is useful for tracked campaigns.
• Apply via API Pass a discount when you create a Checkout Session. The reduction is calculated server-side, so programmatic deals can be tied to events in your own product.

Recurring discounts

Discounts on subscriptions need a clear duration, so the customer always knows what they’re signing up for. Three options cover every common case.

• Once The discount applies to the next renewal only. Future invoices charge the regular price.
• Several months The discount applies for a fixed number of monthly cycles, then drops off. Common for win-back offers and onboarding incentives.
• Forever The discount applies for as long as the subscription renews. Useful for grandfathered customers, partner pricing, or community plans.

How discounts compose

Discounts apply before tax, so the customer sees a single accurate total in the right currency at checkout. The reduction is itemized on every invoice and surfaced in the Customer Portal, which gives finance and the customer the same paper trail to point at.

On the operations side, discount events fire on every order, refund, and renewal, so a CRM or analytics pipeline can credit the right campaign for any conversion without you wiring up separate tracking.

Combined with redemption limits, scoped products, and time windows, that's enough for marketing to run a full promotion calendar without engineering involvement after the first setup.

Create a discount

Pick the shape, duration, and delivery.

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