How to Set Up Discounts on Subscription and One-Time Products

This guide explains how to restrict your discounts or free gifts to specific purchase types. For example, you can create a "Subscribe & Get a Free Gift" offer that does not apply to regular one-time purchases.

Step-by-Step Configuration

1. Access Advanced Settings

• Open your existing campaign (or create a new one) in the Kite dashboard.
• Scroll down to the Eligibility or Advanced Settings section (depending on your specific offer type).
• Look for the setting labeled Subscription Eligibility or Free gift eligibility for subscription products.

2. Choose Your Targeting Logic You will typically see options to filter by purchase type:

• Include only subscription products:
• • Behavior: The discount/gift only triggers if the customer selects a subscription plan (e.g., "Deliver every 30 days") before adding to cart.
  • Use Case: Incentivizing customers to sign up for recurring orders.
• Exclude subscription products (One-Time Only):
• • Behavior: The discount/gift only triggers for standard, one-time purchases. If the customer selects a subscription, the offer is blocked.
  • Use Case: Clearing out inventory or running standard sales that shouldn't stack with subscription discounts.
• All / Default: If you do not change this setting, the offer usually applies to both purchase types.

3. Save and Test

• Click Save.
• Verify "Subscription Only":
• • Go to your store.
  • Add the product as a One-Time Purchase. Result: No gift/discount.
  • Remove it.
  • Add the product as a Subscription. Result: Gift/discount applied.

Technical Notes & Limitations

Selling Plans: Kite detects "Subscription Products" by checking if a Selling Plan (managed by apps like Recharge, Skio, or Shopify Subscriptions) is attached to the item in the cart. If your subscription app is not properly configured, Kite may see the item as a one-time purchase.
Recurring Orders: For "Free Gift on Subscription" offers, usually, the gift is added to the first order only. Ensure your subscription app settings control whether the free item recurs in future months or if it is a one-time "Welcome" gift.

Troubleshooting Checklist

• Offer triggers on everything? You likely left the setting on the default (All). Go back and explicitly select "Include only..." or "Exclude...".
• Offer not triggering on Subscription? Ensure the product you are testing actually has a valid Selling Plan set up in Shopify. If the "Subscribe" option isn't visible on the product page, Kite cannot detect it.
• Gift added to recurring orders? This is often controlled by your Subscription App, not Kite. Kite adds the gift to the cart (the first order). Check your subscription app's "Recurring Line Item" logic to see if it removes the gift for the 2nd renewal.

Updated on: 23/01/2026