Create coupon codes

Coupon codes (also called discount codes or promo codes) give members a discount when they subscribe to one of your subscription plans on the web. You choose the discount, which plans it works on, how many times it can be used, and when it expires.

Who can do this: Community owners and admins. · Where: Web (admin console). Members enter coupons on the web. · Plan: Available when your platform plan includes Paid memberships.

Before you create a coupon

• Connect Stripe. Coupon discounts are applied at Stripe checkout on your connected Stripe account. See Connect Stripe and get paid.
• Create your subscription plans. A coupon discounts subscription plans only. If you have no plans yet, the form says the code will apply to every plan you create. See Create a subscription plan: pricing, trials, and benefits.

Create a coupon code

1. Go to Admin → Monetization → Coupons and click Create Coupon.
2. Enter a Coupon Code, or click Generate for a random 8-character code. Codes use uppercase letters and numbers only, and must be 3 to 20 characters long.
3. Choose a Discount Type: Percentage (%) or Fixed Amount. A fixed amount is charged in your community's settlement currency, which comes from your Stripe account.
4. Enter the Discount. It must be at least 1, and a percentage can't be more than 100.
5. Optional: enter Max Uses (optional). Leave it empty for unlimited uses.
6. Optional: pick an Expiry Date (optional). From that date on, the code no longer works. Click Clear expiry date to remove it.
7. Under Applies to, tick the plans the code works on. Leave everything unchecked to let the code apply to every plan.
8. Keep Active turned on, then click Create Coupon.

How a coupon discount is applied

A coupon discount applies to the first payment only. When the subscription renews, the member pays the plan's normal price. The coupon form shows this as a reminder: The discount applies to the first payment only — recurring plans renew at the normal price.

A coupon only counts as used when the member's payment succeeds. Typing a code and leaving checkout doesn't use up a redemption.

Share a coupon code with members

On Coupons, click the copy icon next to a code, or open the row's actions menu and click Copy Code. Then share the code with members however you like.

Members redeem a coupon on the web:

1. They open your community's Membership Plans page, for example from Member Center.
2. They choose a paid plan and enter the code in Have a coupon code?
3. They continue to checkout. The discount is applied there.

If the code can't be used, the member stays on the page and sees why: We couldn't find that code., This code is no longer active., This code has expired., This code has reached its usage limit., or This code doesn't apply to the plan you selected.

Where coupon codes can't be used

• In the Mateflow app, on iOS or Android.
• When someone signs up to a paid community.
• When a member changes the plan of a subscription they already have.

Coupon codes are also different from the codes members enter under Member Center → Redeem Code. A coupon only gives a discount when a member subscribes to a plan. Redeem codes can't be created in the admin console.

Track how a coupon is used

The top of Coupons shows Total Coupons, Total Redemptions, Expired, and Exhausted (coupons that reached their maximum uses). Each row shows the Code, Discount, which plans it Applies to, its Usage, when it Expires, and its Status (Active or Inactive). A coupon that reaches its maximum uses is marked Exhausted.

Edit, deactivate, or delete a coupon

• Edit a coupon: open the row's actions menu, click Edit, make your changes, and click Update Coupon.
• Deactivate a coupon: edit it, turn off Active, and click Update Coupon. The coupon shows Inactive, and members who enter it see This code is no longer active. Turn Active back on to reuse it.
• Delete a coupon: open the actions menu, click Delete, and confirm in Delete Coupon. Deleting can't be undone.

Troubleshooting coupon codes

Symptom: A member sees This code isn't ready to use yet. Please contact the community admin. Why it happens: The coupon hasn't been set up in your Stripe account yet. Fix: Make sure Stripe is connected, then open the coupon, click Edit, and click Update Coupon to save it again.

Symptom: A member says the discount disappeared at renewal. Why it happens: Coupons discount the first payment only. Fix: This is expected. To give a member free access instead, see Manage subscribers, payments, and refunds.

Related articles

• Ways to earn with your community
• Create a subscription plan: pricing, trials, and benefits
• Manage subscribers, payments, and refunds
• Manage your membership and payments