Coupon Duration for Subscriptions

Reading time: 3 minutes | Difficulty: Intermediate
Requires: Professional license or higher

Overview

Control how long a coupon discount applies to recurring subscription payments. By default, coupons only discount the first payment. With coupon duration, you can extend the discount across multiple billing cycles or make it last forever.

Prerequisites

• At least one coupon created
• A subscription-based payment form
• Professional license or higher

Duration Options

Once (Default)

The discount applies to the first subscription payment only. All subsequent renewals are charged at full price.

Best for:

• Signup incentives
• First-month promotions
• Trial-like discounts

Repeating

The discount applies for a set number of billing cycles. After those cycles, the subscription reverts to full price.

Best for:

• Multi-month promotions (e.g., “3 months at 50% off”)
• Gradual onboarding pricing
• Seasonal discounts spanning several cycles

Forever

The discount applies to every payment for the life of the subscription.

Best for:

• Loyalty rewards
• Partner/affiliate pricing
• Permanent VIP discounts

Setting Up Coupon Duration

1. Go to WP Payment Pal > Coupons
2. Edit an existing coupon or click Add New
3. Set your discount type and amount
4. Find the Duration dropdown

1. Select your duration type
2. If Repeating, enter the number of Billing Cycles
3. Click Publish or Update

Configuring Repeating Duration

When you select Repeating, a Billing Cycles field appears:

Setting	Description
Billing Cycles	Number of renewal payments that receive the discount

Example: 3-Month Discount

Coupon: LAUNCH25
Discount: 25% off
Duration: Repeating
Billing Cycles: 3

Payment 1: 25% off  (cycle 1)
Payment 2: 25% off  (cycle 2)
Payment 3: 25% off  (cycle 3)
Payment 4: Full price
Payment 5: Full price
...

Duration Behavior by Payment Type

Payment Type	Duration Effect
One-time payment	Always applies once, regardless of duration setting
Subscription (Once)	First payment discounted only
Subscription (Repeating)	Discounted for N billing cycles
Subscription (Forever)	Every payment discounted

Example Scenarios

Launch Promotion

Coupon: EARLYBIRD
Discount: 50% off
Duration: Repeating
Billing Cycles: 6

Result: Half price for the first 6 months

VIP Lifetime Discount

Coupon: VIP20
Discount: 20% off
Duration: Forever

Result: 20% off every renewal forever

First-Payment Only

Coupon: TRYME
Discount: $5 off
Duration: Once

Result: $5 off the first payment, full price after

Combining with Other Coupon Settings

Duration works alongside all other coupon settings:

Setting	Interaction
Usage limits	Limits how many customers can use the coupon
Form restrictions	Limits which forms accept the coupon
Expiration date	Limits when the coupon can be applied
Min amount	Checked against the payment amount

Common Questions

Does duration affect setup fees?

No. Setup fees are a one-time charge at subscription creation and are discounted separately.

What happens if a customer cancels and resubscribes?

A new subscription is created. If the coupon is still valid, they can apply it again (subject to usage limits).

Can I change the duration after customers have used the coupon?

Changes only affect future uses. Existing subscriptions keep their original discount terms.

Does this work with custom amount subscriptions?

Yes. The discount applies to whatever amount the customer enters, following the same duration rules.

Best Practices

1. Match duration to goals – Use “Once” for acquisition, “Repeating” for retention, “Forever” for loyalty
2. Set billing cycles carefully – Consider your subscription interval (monthly vs yearly)
3. Combine with usage limits – Prevent unlimited Forever coupons from eroding revenue
4. Communicate clearly – Tell customers how long their discount lasts

What’s Next?

• Creating Discount Coupons – Coupon basics
• Setting Coupon Usage Limits – Control usage and expiration
• Adding Coupon Fields to Your Form – Enable coupon input