39% of online shoppers abandon their carts due to extra costs. It often relates to the late timing of your discounts in the purchase process. Customers leave your Shopify stores because of that.
So, when and where to apply these discounts?
Discount codes that automatically apply before checkout can help with that. It boosts conversion rates and reduces cart abandonment effectively.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to create a Shopify discount code before checkout and explore the best apps to automate this process. This blog also covers proven strategies to maximize your sales through strategic discount placement.
First,
What are Shopify Discount Codes & Why Do They Work?
Shopify discount codes are promotional tools that offer customers price reductions on their purchases. When strategically placed before the checkout step, these codes can significantly impact your store’s performance.
By presenting discount codes early in the shopping journey, you create several advantages:
- Increased conversion rates: Customers feel they’re getting a deal before committing to purchase. This builds confidence and reduces hesitation during the buying process.
- Reduced cart abandonment: When shoppers see savings applied automatically, they are more likely to search for better deals on your Shopify store. Research indicates that the average cart abandonment rate reaches 70.19%. This results in significant revenue loss for e-commerce stores each year.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction: Transparent pricing with visible discounts creates a positive shopping experience that encourages repeat purchases.
- Improved average order value (AOV): Strategic discount placement can motivate customers to add more items to qualify for better deals.
Now that you understand the definition and benefits of discount codes on Shopify, let’s dive into a complete Shopìy discount codes setup guide with two effective methods.
How To Create a Shopify Discount Code Before Checkout Without an App
A careful plan and strategic implementation help you create discount codes before checkout for your Shopify store. Here’s how to set up discount codes that work seamlessly before the payment stage:
How to add discount codes before checkout with Shopify’s built-in tool
Navigate to your Shopify admin dashboard and follow these steps to create Shopify discount code campaigns. We’ll use the Amount off products promotion as an example for creating discount codes on Shopify before checkout on a product page.
Step 1: Set up your Discount code
- Name your code clearly or generate a random code (e.g., 10%OFF).
Step 2: Configure your Discount value
- Choose between a Percentage or a Fixed amount discount (e.g., 10% off the price).
- Select your products or collections to apply this discount.
Step 3: Under Advanced settings
- Select which customer(s) can use your discount: All customers, specific segmentation, or specific customers.
- Set conditions for when the discount applies: No minimum requirements (selected), minimum purchase amount ($), or minimum quantity of items.
- Limit discount usage: Limit the total number of times this discount can be used or restrict it to one use per customer.
Pro tip: In the Maximum discount uses section, select the Limit one use per customer option to prevent discount abuse and protect your profit margins.
Step 4: Configure Discount combinations & Activate
- Combine your discount offer with other rules (e.g., products, orders, or shipping discounts).
- Select the start and end date for your promotion > Click Save discount.
- Your discount is now active.
If you want to find another discount strategy to boost your AOV before checkout with Shopify’s native tool, explore our step-by-step guide on how to create a shipping discount code on Shopify.
How to apply discount codes automatically on the Product page
Step 1: Select one of your activated discount codes
- In this case, we’ll choose the one from the previous section.
Step 2: Get a discount code link
- Click on the Promote section.
- Or choose the Shareable link option.
Step 3: Promote your discount code
- Select the Product page in the Discount link landing page section.
- Copy the link and share it via email or social media to reach potential customers.
If you want to customize this shareable link, explore how to create a Shopify discount code URL with three proven methods and expert tips to optimize your discount campaigns.
Now you know how to implement a Shopify code before checkout, let’s explore the top 5 discount apps on Shopify to offer your codes effectively.
5 Best Shopify Apps to Create Discount Codes Before Checkout
1. AOV Bundles Volume Discounts
AOV Bundles Volume Discounts is among the top Shopify discount applications available before checkout. It assists merchants in setting up different discount rules and campaign strategies. The app features AI-driven “frequently bought together” recommendations to enhance the shopping experience.
General app information:
- Rating: 4.9/5 (136 reviews)
- Developer: AOV.ai (by Avada)
- Pricing: Free
- Free plan: Yes
Key features:
- Bundling approaches: Tap into greater value with fixed bundles, popular “frequently bought together” recommendations, and enticing volume discounts that motivate larger orders.
- Customizable elements: Fully adaptable components that easily match your distinctive branding, fostering a seamless experience for customers.
- Versatile discount options: Enhance sales potential by providing personalized product, order, and shipping discounts.
- Smooth integration: Enjoy a straightforward setup that guarantees seamless compatibility across all Shopify stores.
2. AOV.ai: Free Gift, BOGO & BXGY
Another discounting app before checkout is AOV.ai: Free Gift, BOGO & BXGY. This app presents exciting promotional strategies directly on your product pages, such as Buy One Get One (BOGO) and Buy X Get Y offers.
General app information:
- Rating: 4.9/5 (492 reviews)
- Developer: AOV.ai (by Avada)
- Pricing: Free plan available, $19.99–$49.99/month
- Free plan: Yes
Key features:
- Optimal A/B testing: Identify the most effective campaign to improve your store’s revenue.
- Combination of discount rules: Seamlessly integrates with Shopify discount codes.
- Automated upsell strategy for add-to-cart: Establish Buy One Get One (BOGO), Buy X Get Y, and quantity purchase promotions to enhance average order value (AOV).
- Worldwide compatibility: Support international customers in their native languages, expanding your market reach.
Expert tip: Our AOV.ai app can combine free gift and bundling strategies to boost your AOV and improve the customer experience.
3. Discounty: Bulk Discount Sales
The third app for applying discount codes on Shopify before checkout is Discounty: Bulk Discount Sales. This application implements various strategies for managing discounts, such as flash sales, tiered pricing, and cart value adjustments.
General app information:
- Rating: 4.9/5 (691 reviews)
- Developer: Discounty
- Pricing: Free plan available, or $9.90–$39.90/month
- Free plan: Yes
Key features:
- Targeted offer rules: Design specific upsell campaigns tailored for different customer segments and valued repeat purchasers.
- Smart discount strategies: Enhance order value with volume discounts, complimentary gifts, and progress indicators.
- Cart optimization tools: Increase sales through in-cart upselling, sticky drawers, and slide-out suggestions.
4. 506 GetSale Bulk Discounts App
The 506 GetSale Bulk Discounts App offers a comprehensive solution for discount codes before checkout on Shopify, with a focus on bulk discount options. This app is particularly effective in delivering transparent and professional discount displays.
General app information:
- Rating: 5.0/5 (252 reviews)
- Developer: 506
- Pricing: Free plan available, or $12.99–$29.99/month
- Free plan: Yes
Key features:
- Percentage discounts: Apply percentage-based discounts on both products and their variants to boost sales.
- Bulk sale management: Use an automatic price editing tool to organize and schedule bulk sales.
- Automated product tagging: Automatically sort products by their attributes for effective discount management based on specific criteria.
- Sales countdown timer: Add countdown timers to product pages to motivate customers to finalize their purchases.
5. Volume Discounts — Dealeasy
Volume Discounts — Dealeasy aims to be one of the most user-friendly Shopify discount code applications for volume pricing. With an emphasis on ease of use and efficiency, this app enables merchants to offer quantity-based discounts.
General app information:
- Rating: 4.9/5 (348 reviews)
- Developer: Logbase
- Pricing: Free plan available, or $8.99–$24.99/month
- Free plan: Yes
Key features:
- Volume discounts/quantity breaks: Display discounts directly on the product page for customers buying multiple items.
- Cart progress bar: Introduce a visual progress indicator for discounts, such as a free shipping target or promotional gifts.
- Flexible discount tiers: Set up to 25 automatic discount levels and up to 200 code-based discounts to customize promotions for different customer groups.
If you’re looking to find a detailed review about these apps, check out our top 10 Shopify discount apps based on pros, cons, and your specific store type.
5 Common Shopify Discount Code Issues and Troubleshooting
88% of U.S. shoppers consider a coupon or discount code as a deciding factor in completing a checkout. Even with a proper setup, you might encounter challenges when implementing discount codes.
These mistakes may create a negative impact on your AOV and customer journey. Here are the most common issues and their solutions:
1. The discount code in Shopify is not working on the Cart page
One of the most frustrating experiences for customers is that the discount code doesn’t apply immediately. Often, this happens because many Shopify themes only support discount input fields at the checkout stage, not on the cart or drawer pages.
This delay creates confusion, especially when users expect the discount to appear earlier in the process.
The key is to ensure your theme supports cart page discount functionality. Many themes require code modifications or app integrations to enable this feature.
2. Automatic discount application conflicts
By default, Shopify only allows one automatic discount and one manual discount code per order. These offers become an issue when stores run multiple concurrent promotions during high-traffic periods, such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or holiday sales.
Sometimes, multiple discount apps or rules can interfere with applying codes correctly. They can prevent the proper application of the code. Here’s what we suggest you do:
- Review your discount hierarchy and ensure that apps work together effectively.
- Disable conflicting discount rules and thoroughly test the system.
3. Mobile discount display issues
Mobile commerce now accounts for the majority of e-commerce orders (over 73% of global retail sales in 2024, per Insider Intelligence).
If your discount codes don’t display correctly on their devices, your mobile conversion rates will drop significantly. It also negatively impacts the customer shopping experience. But don’t worry. The top 5 Shopify apps mentioned above work seamlessly on all platforms, creating a smooth shopping journey.
4. Customer confusion about discount eligibility
Even when your Shopify discount code works perfectly, confusion around when and how to use it can frustrate customers and lead them to abandon their cart.
Whether it’s unclear expiration dates, minimum purchase requirements, or category-specific rules, this lack of transparency hurts trust. Here are some implementation examples that you can follow:
- Create clear messaging about discount requirements and benefits (e.g., Valid for orders over $50).
- Use prominent displays to communicate savings opportunities (e.g., on product pages, pop-ups, cart pages, and marketing banners).
5. Discount codes conflicting with other promotions
Studies show that 37% of shoppers expect flexible redemption options. If your customers can’t use discount codes in combination with other promotions, they may feel disappointed.
An effective Shopify discount code combo can significantly improve your sales performance and boost your customer retention. There are three practical tips to configure discount stackings on a Shopify store:
- Establish clear discount policies and communicate them effectively.
- Consider allowing discount stacking where profitable (e.g., on product page, cart page, in-cart page, etc.).
- Offer Shopify bundle deals, create Buy X Get Y promotions, or auto-applied discounts.
Conclusion
Effective Shopify discount codes before checkout require strategic planning, proper implementation, and ongoing optimization. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can create Shopify discount code campaigns that boost conversions and enhance customer satisfaction.
Whether you choose a native tool or a specialized app, the key to success lies in making discounts natural and valuable while maintaining healthy profit margins.
FAQs About Shopify Discount Code Before Checkout
To automatically apply discount codes, use apps like Smart Discounts or implement a custom code that detects qualifying conditions. Set up triggers based on cart value, customer segments, or specific products to ensure the discount is automatically applied when conditions are met.
A discount link is a special URL that automatically applies a discount code when customers click it. To create discount URLs in your Shopify store, navigate to the Discounts section, then use them in email campaigns, social media, or advertising to streamline the discount application process.
Yes, you can combine discount codes with upsells, but the configuration requires a strategic discount plan. Ensure your discount rules and upsell apps work together without conflicts. Test thoroughly to verify that customers can access both benefits without technical issues affecting their shopping experience.
