How to create App Store offer codes
App Store offer codes give chosen customers a free or discounted subscription period (or, for in-app purchases, a discounted or free item); you set up the offer in App Store Connect, then generate one-time-use codes (500 to 25,000 per batch) or a named custom code, within a limit of 1 million codes per app per quarter.
What are offer codes?
Offer codes are redeemable codes that give a free or discounted price for a set duration on an auto-renewable subscription, to acquire, keep or win back subscribers. Apple has also added offer codes for in-app purchases (consumable, non-consumable and non-renewing subscriptions), with slightly different rules (see below).
They are one of four subscription offer types; how they compare with introductory, promotional and win-back offers is in App Store subscription offers.
What types of codes exist, and what are the limits?
| One-time-use codes | Custom codes | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Unique random codes, one per customer | A code you name, for example SPRINGPROMO, shared by many |
| Batch size | 500 to 25,000 codes per batch; repeat batches for more | Redemption limit up to 25,000 per batch; reuse the code for more |
| Expiry | Required, at most 6 months after creation | Optional; if set, at most 6 months |
| Where redeemed | Redemption URL, App Store code redemption, or in your app | Redemption URL or in your app |
| Best for | Small, controlled groups: events, support, partners | Large public campaigns |
Limits for subscription offer codes:
- 1 million codes per app per quarter, shared across all subscriptions and both code types.
- One redemption per offer per customer.
- Up to 10 active offers per subscription.
- Custom codes up to 64 characters, without special characters.
- A deactivated offer cannot be reactivated, and all its codes stop working.
- Codes expire at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time on the expiry date.
- New codes can take up to an hour before they work.
- Offers cannot be edited once created.
In-app redemption of subscription codes works on iOS 14, iPadOS 14 or macOS 15 and later, if your app supports the StoreKit method.
How do I create a subscription offer, step by step?
Required role: Account Holder, Admin, App Manager or Marketing.
- In Apps, select your app, then click Subscriptions in the sidebar.
- Choose the subscription group and the subscription.
- In Subscription Prices, click the add button (+) and choose Create Offer Codes.
- Enter a reference name. It appears in Sales and Trends reports and StoreKit transactions.
- Decide whether the subscription should auto-renew at the standard price after the offer. Checking the box prevents renewal and limits you to free offers.
- Choose customer eligibility, one or more of: New subscribers (never subscribed in the group), Existing subscribers (currently subscribed, including billing retry or grace period), Expired subscribers (previously subscribed, auto-renew off and period ended).
- If the subscription has an introductory offer, choose whether code users can get both (Yes: introductory offer first, then the code's offer) or not (No).
- Click Next, select countries or regions, click Next.
- Choose Pay as you go, Pay up front or Free, the duration and the price for your base country. App Store Connect proposes comparable prices for all 175 storefronts; change any you need.
- Check and click Confirm.
How do I generate the codes?
One-time-use codes:
- In the subscription, go to Subscription Prices > View all Subscription Pricing, then the Offer Codes tab.
- Select your offer and click Create One-Time Use Codes.
- Choose a number between 500 and 25,000 and an expiry date (at most six months).
- Click Create. Download the codes later from the offer as a .csv file.
Custom codes:
- Same path, then Create Custom Codes.
- Enter the code (up to 64 characters), a redemption limit (up to 25,000) and an expiry date or No End Date.
- Click Create.
Sandbox codes for testing: in the offer's detail, Create Sandbox Codes makes 10 to 10,000 test codes, valid up to six months, redeemable through Sandbox account settings on iOS 16.3, macOS 15.0 or visionOS 1.0 and later.
How are offer codes for in-app purchases different?
| In-app purchase offer codes | |
|---|---|
| Products | Consumable, non-consumable, non-renewing subscriptions |
| Offer | Paid Offer (discounted) or Free Offer |
| Eligibility | Never purchased in your app; purchased in the last 30 days; purchased more than 30 days ago (choose all for everyone) |
| Limits | Up to 10 active offers per app; 1 million codes per app per quarter |
| Requirement for real codes | App in Ready for Distribution and the in-app purchase Approved |
| In-app redemption | iOS 16.3, macOS 15.0, visionOS 1.0 or later |
| Where | Apps > In-App Purchases > the item > Offer Codes > Create Offer |
How do offer codes differ from promo codes?
| Promo codes | Offer codes | |
|---|---|---|
| Gives | A free copy of a paid app | A free or discounted subscription period, or a discounted or free in-app purchase |
| Limit | Up to 100 per version per platform | 1 million per app per quarter |
| Valid for | Four weeks from generation | Up to six months, or no end date for custom codes |
| Ratings | People who redeem cannot rate or review | No such rule stated |
| Where | Apps > your app > Promo Codes | Subscriptions or In-App Purchases |
How should I use offer codes well?
- Match the code type to the channel. Custom codes suit a newsletter, podcast or social campaign; one-time codes suit support and partners where each person should get exactly one.
- Pick eligibility on purpose. "Expired subscribers" makes a code a win-back tool; "New subscribers" makes it an acquisition tool.
- Check the interaction with your introductory offer in step 7, or you may stack discounts you did not intend.
- Track redemptions in Sales and Trends by reference name, and compare retention after the offer ends.
Note that store commission still applies to the discounted price; see commission rates. For base prices, see App Store pricing.
How does Uptika help?
Uptika does not manage codes. It shows whether the traffic you send with a campaign turns into search visibility: the Keyword radar records your daily ranks for tracked keywords, and the Rival log records competitors' price and listing changes, which often coincide with their own promotions. The Free plan tracks one app in one storefront: start free.
Questions
How do I create offer codes in App Store Connect?
Open Apps > your app > Subscriptions, choose the group and subscription, click the add button in Subscription Prices and choose Create Offer Codes. Set the reference name, eligibility, countries, offer type and price, and confirm. Then, under Offer Codes, create one-time-use codes or a custom code for that offer.
How many offer codes can I create?
Up to 1 million codes per app per quarter, shared across all subscriptions. One-time-use codes are created in batches of 500 to 25,000; a custom code can have a redemption limit of up to 25,000 per batch. Each subscription can have up to 10 active offers.
Do offer codes expire?
One-time-use codes must have an expiry date, at most six months after creation. Custom codes can have an expiry date (also at most six months) or none. Codes expire at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time on the chosen date.
Promo codes vs offer codes on the App Store?
Promo codes give a free copy of a paid app (up to 100 per version per platform, valid four weeks); people who redeem them cannot rate or review the app. Offer codes give a free or discounted subscription period, or a discounted or free in-app purchase, to the customers you choose.