This article explains how Stripe Coupons work, how to set them up, and what happens after the discount ends.
What Stripe Coupons Are
Stripe Coupons let you offer discounted or free access for a set period while still collecting the user’s payment details upfront. This ensures a seamless transition to a paid subscription once the promotional period ends.
If you want to give access to your content without taking payment method details, or give access to secret products then it is better to use the Access Code Feature on your CMS Dashboard
When to Use Stripe Coupons
Stripe Coupons are ideal for:
Marketing campaigns where you want frictionless automatic conversion to paid
Long-term trials that lead directly into billing
Retention offers for at‑risk subscribers
Growth campaigns requiring upfront commitment
Promotions offering 100% off for 6 or 12 months, this works like a free trial
How to Create a Stripe Coupon
Before you start, make sure you have a Stripe account connected to your SupaPass app. Once you have them connected follow these steps:
Login to Stripe Dashboard
From the left menu, click 'Product Catalog' and then navigate to 'Coupons' tab.
Above the table of coupons, on the right hand side click the + Create Coupon button.
Give the coupon a name. This name will show on a customer's receipt or invoice, show make sure its a clear description and remember that it is customer facing.
The ID is what will be used as the redeemable coupon code. So this is what your customer will have to enter at the payment cart when asked for a code. You have two options here:
Leave it blank - Stripe will generate a random ID for you to use as the redeemable coupon code.
Create your own - This is usually applicable if the code is part of your marketing strategy (e.g. a Black Friday deal coupon code could be 'BFRIDAY10' to indicate 10 % discount) or you name it closely related to the name you gave it in step 4.
Important
The Stripe ID is the value your user will enter for the coupon. This value is case sensitive, too!
Next, select the type of discount - percentage or fixed.
Percentage - e.g. if your subscription price is 10$ a month and you offer a 10 % discount it will discount 1$ , so customer pays 9$
Fixed amount - e.g. if your subscription price is 10$ a month and you offer a fixed amount of 5$, so customer pays 5$
The coupon applies to all your products by default unless you choose to 'Apply to specific products'. Please check out this article to set this up correctly.
Set a duration for the coupon. 'Forever' will apply the coupon to every bill, or you can set the coupon to only apply just once or to a certain number of months.
Choose to set any limitations on your coupons such as a limit on the number of times the coupon can be used.
The toggle Use customer-facing coupon codes is not applicable for your setup. SupaPass and Stripe use the API connection, so the ID is the coupon.
Click Create coupon
You coupon is now created and active. The ID - or code can now be shared with your audience.
How Does the Coupon work in the SupaPass check out page
Adding the coupon in the SupaPass checkout page by your users is easy! When they are in the checkout page for the product they want to purchase, they click on have a coupon?
They add the coupon and click Check. Initially the system will check if the coupon exists in Stripe, in this step it will not verify if the coupon is valid for a particular product. If the coupon exists, it will turn green.
If it doesn't exist or is not recognized, it will turn red and returns a validation error message.
After the user has entered their payment details, it will then verify if the coupon is valid for that product and if so, it will apply the discount.
If it is not valid for that product, it will not apply the discount.
What Happens After the Discount Period Ends
When the Stripe Coupon expires:
The subscription continues automatically at the normal price.
The user’s saved payment method is charged.
Stripe handles all billing notifications.
There is no dedicated email specifically informing users that the promotion has ended.
Optional: Automated Follow‑Up
Notify users near the end of the discount period
Offer incentives to stay subscribed
Trigger CRM workflows
This gives you more control over messaging than Stripe’s default billing emails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do users have to enter payment details when using a Stripe Coupon?
Do users have to enter payment details when using a Stripe Coupon?
Yes. Stripe Coupons always require card details at checkout. if you want to create an access code without the need of card details, check out this SupaPass feature
What happens when a 100% Stripe Coupon expires?
What happens when a 100% Stripe Coupon expires?
The subscription continues at the normal price and the user is charged automatically.
Does Stripe send a notification when the promotional period ends?
Does Stripe send a notification when the promotional period ends?
No. Stripe sends billing-related emails (e.g., receipts, invoices) but does not send a “your promotion is ending” message.
Can I send my own reminders before charges begin?
Can I send my own reminders before charges begin?
Yes. You can use SupaPass Webhooks or Zapier to trigger CRM notifications.
Can Stripe Coupons be used for long free trials?
Can Stripe Coupons be used for long free trials?
Yes. A 100% discount for 6 or 12 months is a common approach.
Can I limit a coupon to specific products or prices?
Can I limit a coupon to specific products or prices?
Yes. Stripe Coupons can be applied only to selected prices or all prices. For exact instructions on setting this up you can check out this help article
Can a user stack multiple Stripe Coupons?
Can a user stack multiple Stripe Coupons?
No. Only one coupon can be applied to a subscription.
What happens if a user cancels during the promotional period?
What happens if a user cancels during the promotional period?
Their subscription will stay active until the end of the discounted period and then end without further billing.
Can I use Stripe Coupons for retention offers?
Can I use Stripe Coupons for retention offers?
Yes. Many creators use temporary discounts to retain subscribers who might otherwise churn.
Can Stripe Coupons be used for lifetime discounts?
Can Stripe Coupons be used for lifetime discounts?
Yes. Stripe supports “forever” coupons that permanently reduce the subscription price.