Shopify Automatic Discount vs Discount Code: How to Choose
Shopify automatic discount vs discount code: learn what each method can and cannot do, and how to choose the right one for your next campaign.
10 min read
One discount code, a different price for every product
Shopify gives a code one value. diex lets one code or automatic discount take a different value off each product or variant, as a percentage or a fixed amount, so a single campaign can protect thin margins on some items and go deep on others.
PARTNER1 code, 3 values
- Linen overshirt-30%
$76.00$53.20 - Canvas tote-15%
$32.00$27.20 - Wool socks, 3 pack-10%
$24.00$21.60
The problem
A Shopify discount code has one value. To take 30% off overstock and 10% off best sellers in the same campaign, you end up with several codes that customers mix up and that you have to report on separately.
How diex solves it
- One code, or one automatic discount, with its own value for each product or variant: all percentages or all fixed amounts.
- Customers remember a single code, and you track a single campaign.
- Duplicate last season’s campaign and change only the values and dates.
What you get
Per product or per variant
Set 30% off last season, 15% off a best seller and 10% off new arrivals, all on the same code.
One code to share
Customers remember one code. You report on one campaign. No more SALE10, SALE20 and SALE30 living side by side.
Code or automatic
Run it as a code for a newsletter or a partner, or as an automatic discount for a storewide event.
Duplicate and adjust
Duplicate last year’s campaign, change a few values and dates, and it is ready.
How to set it up
- 1
Create a variable discount and give it a code or make it automatic.
- 2
Choose percentage or fixed amount, then add products or variants and set the value for each.
- 3
Set the active dates and how it combines with other discounts.
- 4
Share the code, or let it apply on its own.
Common uses
- Margin-aware sales
- Go deep on overstock and stay shallow on items that barely carry a discount.
- Partner and influencer codes
- Give a partner one code that discounts their recommended products by different amounts.
- Seasonal clearance
- Mark down each variant by how much stock is left, without creating a code per markdown.
Questions
Can one code really have different values?
Yes. A variable discount is one code or automatic discount whose amount is set per product or variant. Shopify applies the right value to each line at checkout.
Can I mix percentages and fixed amounts?
Not in one discount. You choose percentage or fixed amount for the whole discount, then set a different value for each product or variant. To mix the two, run a second variable discount.
Related articles
Other features
- Volume discountsQuantity tiers that reward bigger baskets, with mix-and-match counting.
- Spend tiersBigger discounts as the order total grows, whole order or scoped.
- Bulk discount codesThousands of unique codes, generated or imported, in one campaign.
- Customer eligibilityLimit a discount to customer tags, first orders or signed-in shoppers.
- Storefront blocksPricing tables, a spend progress bar and banners for your theme, no code.
Run the promotions you actually want to run
Install diex from the Shopify App Store. One plan at $29.99 a month, billed by Shopify.