Short-Term Subscription Incentives

Last updated: July 2, 2026

Offer subscribers an additional reward for a set number of subscription orders. Apply the incentive to the first order only, the first few orders, or any defined number of billing cycles.

How It Works

When a customer adds a subscription product to their cart, the incentive applies for the number of subscription cycles you specify.

After the term ends, the incentive stops and the customer continues their subscription at standard pricing.

Example:

  • First order only: 20% off

  • First 3 orders: Free shipping

  • First 6 orders: $10 off each order

Subscription Pricing Considerations

Subscription products often include a base subscriber discount from your subscription app. When you add a short-term incentive, subscribers receive both the existing pricing and the additional reward for the selected cycles.

Review total value to ensure it aligns with your intended subscription offer.

Setup

  1. Open the Abra app and click Create Promotion

  2. Set Visibility to Private while configuring

  3. Scroll to Discounts and click Add a discount

  4. Select the incentive type (percentage, amount off, free shipping, or free gift)

  5. Enter a URL-friendly discount code (e.g., FIRST-ORDER-20)

  6. Configure your settings:

    • Customer Buys - Set Purchase Type to Subscription

    • Subscription Term - Choose how many subscription orders the incentive applies to

    • Choose your incentive value

    • Customer Eligibility - All customers or a specific Shopify segment

    • Usage Limits - Per order, per customer, or total uses

    • Sales Channels and Markets - Limit if needed

  7. Click Save

  8. Scroll to Storefront Blocks, activate any you want to use, and place them in your theme editor

See Promotion Configuration for details on each configuration option.

Storefront Display

Promotion messaging appears wherever you place storefront blocks. The incentive displays at checkout and on each eligible subscription order.

See Storefront Blocks for block types and placement options.

Subscription Calculator

Subscription pricing from your subscription app is multiplicative, not additive, so it is recommended to utilize our calculator for subscription discount add-ons and test prior to sharing with customers. 

Subscription Discount Calculator

Subscription discounts in Abra are multiplicative (they stack on your subscription app's discount), so use the calculator in the Abra app to work out the additional discount needed on the subscription from your current and target discount totals.

Limitations

  • Incentives apply only for the number of subscription cycles you select

  • Shopify automatic discounts may conflict with Abra promotions and cause unpredictable behavior (e.g., gifts not discounted, codes not applying)