Unlock Shopify Subscription Discounts with Savify
Introduction: Why Discounts Matter in Shopify
Shopify allows store owners to sell subscriptions using native functionality or third-party apps like Recharge, Bold, and Loop. But how do Shopify subscription discounts in products? Whether you’re using native Shopify Checkout or a subscription app, we’ve got you covered. Every Shopify store owner wants more sales. One of the easiest ways to do that? Discounts.
But here’s the problem:
- Shopify’s default system doesn’t allow automatic discounts with full flexibility.
- You can’t combine discounts.
- You can’t exclude specific products easily.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- How to set up a Shopify subscription discount
- How to offer Shopify shipping discounts
- How to apply Shopify discount combinations
- How to create automatic, quantity, and conditional discounts
- How to exclude products from discounts in Shopify
Shopify’s Native Subscription Discount Rules
If you’re using Shopify’s native checkout with subscription apps that use the Shopify Subscriptions API, here’s what you can do:
- Apply a discount code during checkout (only 1 code allowed)
- Use percentage or fixed amount off subscription products
- Limit the discount to first payment only or recurring
- No built-in option for free trial unless supported by app
- You can’t stack discounts without Shopify Functions or apps
Discount must apply to products marked as subscription-eligible.
Table of Contents
Popular Subscription Discount Use Cases
First Month Free
Use Recharge or Bold to apply 100% off the first billing cycle.
15% Off Every Month
Recurring % discount applied for the life of the subscription.
Discount After Trial
14-day free trial → then $10/month.
Limited Cycle Discount
20% off for the first 3 payments, then full price after.
Exclusive Deals for Tagged Customers
With apps like Cart Lock, show discounts only to VIPs or email subscribers.
What is a Shopify Subscription Discount?
A Shopify subscription discount gives your subscribers — like VIP customers or email list members — a special deal automatically.
Why Use It?
- Boosts loyalty
- Encourages repeat purchases
- Makes VIPs feel valued
With Savify, you can create automatic subscription discounts using Customer Tags like “VIP” or “Subscriber.”
Example:
If a customer has the tag “Subscriber,” they can get 20% off everything — no code needed.
How to Set Up Shopify Subscription Discount
Option 1: Using Shopify Checkout + Compatible App (e.g., Recharge, Bold)
- Go to Discounts > Create Discount
- Select Amount off products
- Choose a code (e.g., SUBSAVE20)
- Under “Applies to” > select Specific Products
- Add only subscription-eligible products
- Set usage limits (e.g., first order only)
- Save and test on a subscription product
Option 2: Use Savify to Control Discount Visibility
Step 1: Open Savify App
Install the Savify Automatic Discount App from the Shopify App Store.
Step 1: Choose Discount Type
Select Discount type and set:
- Discount Type: Order / Product / Shipping
Step 2: Set Your Condition
Choose the condition: Customer Tags
Add a tag like “subscriber”.
Step 3: Add a Discount Rule Name
Click “Add New Rule” in the dashboard.
Step 4: Select Discount Method
- Automatic discount
- Let customers know they got a subscription discount!
- Discount Value: (e.g., 10%)
Step 5: Save
That’s it! Now any tagged subscriber gets an automatic discount.
Shopify Shipping Discount: Target by Country or Region
Shipping discounts help attract international customers.
With Savify, you can:
- Offer 50% off shipping to the UK
- Give free shipping to US buyers
- Set custom shipping discounts by country
How to Set It:
- Choose the condition: Shipping Country
- Select “If Found” and enter the country name (e.g., United States)
- Set your shipping discount (e.g., 100% for free shipping)
This is much easier than Shopify’s built-in shipping rules!
Shopify Discount Combinations: Finally Possible!
One of Shopify’s biggest weaknesses?
No stacking of discounts by default.
With Savify, you can combine:
- Cart total + shipping discount
- Customer tag + quantity discount
- Order subtotal + product collection discount
Real Example:
A VIP customer orders over $100:
- Gets 10% off the order
- Gets 20% off shipping
- And a free gift for buying 3+ items
Savify allows true discount combinations like this — no code needed.
How to Create Discount Code on Shopify (for Manual Users)
If you’re not using Savify yet, here’s how to make a basic Shopify discount code:
- Go to Shopify Admin > Discounts
- Click Create Discount
- Choose Discount Code
- Fill in:
- Code (e.g., WELCOME10)
- Value
- Applies to (all, collections, or products)
- Usage limits
- Save
Limitations:
- Only one discount can be used at checkout.
- No automatic application.
- Can’t combine shipping and product discounts.
That’s why Savify’s automatic discounts are better for growing stores.
Shopify Automatic Discount with Savify: Total Control
Here’s what you can do using Savify:
| Feature | Shopify Default | Savify App |
| Automatic Discounts | Limited | Full Support |
| Combine Discounts | No | Yes |
| Exclude Products | Hard | Easy |
| Customer Tag Conditions | No | Yes |
| Shipping Discounts | Basic | Advanced |
You can even add discount messages so your customers know they’re saving.
Shopify Quantity Discount: Reward More Orders
Want to encourage bulk buying?
Use quantity-based discounts like:
- Buy 2, get 10% off
- Buy 5, get 25% off
- Buy 10+, get free shipping
How to Do This in Savify:
- Add condition: Total Quantity
- Set number: e.g., “If quantity ≥ 3”
- Set Discount Code.
This helps increase average order value with no extra apps.
How to Exclude Products from Discount in Shopify
Sometimes, you don’t want discounts on certain items.
With Savify, you can exclude products or collections in seconds.
Watch Video to know more about Savify:
Now that product won’t get any discount, even if others do.
Benefits of Using Savify for Shopify Discounts
Automatic — no manual codes
Simple rules — tag, country, cart value, quantity
Combines shipping + product deals
Perfect for VIPs, subscribers, wholesale buyers
Saves time, improves conversions
Works even without Shopify Plus
Real-World Use Cases
| Store Type | Use Case |
| Fashion Store | VIP subscriber gets 20% off + free shipping |
| Cosmetics | Buy 3, get 25% off + exclude bundles |
| Tech | UK buyers get 10% shipping discount |
| Subscription Box | Monthly members auto-tagged and rewarded |
5 Common Mistakes Shopify Stores Make with Discounts
- Using only one type of discount
- Forgetting to exclude premium products
- Not rewarding repeat customers
- Not using automatic rules
- Offering only product discounts (no shipping deals)
Savify solves all of these with smart, stacked, and targeted discounts.
FAQs About Shopify Subscription Discounts
Q1. Can I offer a free trial in Shopify subscriptions?
Not by default — but apps like Recharge or Bold allow free trials or 100% off the first cycle.
Q2. Can I apply a discount only to the first payment?
Yes. Most apps allow you to set one-time discounts for the first billing cycle.
Q3. Can I offer a recurring discount like 20% off forever?
Yes — set it as a recurring code during discount creation.
Q4. Can I show subscription-only discounts to specific users?
Use Cart Lock or Shopify Functions to show targeted offers.
Q5. Can customers stack discounts?
Not natively — Shopify only allows one code at checkout. Apps can help.
Final Thoughts
If you’re running a Shopify store in 2025, you need more than basic discounts.
With the Savify Automatic Discount App, you can:
- Create powerful Shopify subscription discounts
- Offer shipping, product, and quantity discounts
- Combine multiple discount types
- Set clear rules based on tags, countries, cart value, and more
Offering subscription discounts in Shopify is a powerful way to reduce churn and boost sign-ups — but setup matters. Use the right app, define your use case (free trial, recurring %, etc.), and prevent abuse with smart discount controls.
Want to combine logic like “first month free + 10% recurring”?
Try Savify — no-code, flexible, and built for Shopify.
