---
title: "Discount code or automatic discount?"
description: "A discount code applies when the customer enters it at checkout; an automatic discount applies by itself. You choose when you create the discount and can't change it later."
url: https://jxngqfpxd.us.gleap.help/en/articles/18-discount-code-or-automatic-discount
collection: "Discount settings"
updated: 2026-11-06
language: en
---

# Discount code or automatic discount?

A discount code applies when the customer enters it at checkout; an automatic discount applies by itself. You choose when you create the discount and can't change it later.

**In short:** Choose **Discount code** if customers should type a code, or **Automatic discount** if it should apply to everyone who qualifies. You choose under **Discount Method** when you create the discount. It can't be changed after saving.

![The Discount Method card with Discount code and Automatic discount](https://staticfiles.us.gleap.ai/p6ae440349b260bc5e19963ea/zJPjPJ4KCUJgioWO8n9pNOAyjIiCNQmTxdOmt5gPlACZzLqFPgyKCMOtIxzGLqRFt4nRQD6LjLV.png "The Discount Method card with Discount code and Automatic discount")

## Discount code

-   The customer types the code in the cart or at checkout.
    
-   Type your own code, or click **Generate** for a random 12-character code.
    
-   The code is also the discount's name, in OneCode: Stackable Discounts, in Shopify's **Discounts** page and at checkout.
    
-   You can set **Maximum discount uses** and create **Bulk Discount Codes**.
    

## Automatic discount

-   Applies by itself to every customer who meets its conditions. No code needed.
    
-   Give it a **Title**. Customers see it in their cart and at checkout, for example "Buy more, save more".
    

![The Discount Method card with Automatic discount selected and the title Buy more, save more](https://staticfiles.us.gleap.ai/p6ae440349b260bc5e19963ea/Lqohx49AygzRdc8UHKhblz2frfe77QOJCNY2v9PlrJEkfRpAoJAGxprA7aglGhbrq0JUZ6WUIrM.png "The Discount Method card with Automatic discount selected and the title Buy more, save more")

-   Usage limits and bulk codes aren't available, because there's no code to count.
    

## Which should I use?

-   **Code:** influencer and email campaigns, VIP offers, anything you share with specific people, or when you need usage limits.
    
-   **Automatic:** store-wide sales and tiered offers you want every visitor to get without having to remember a code.
    

## Good to know

-   To switch an existing discount between code and automatic, create a new discount with the same settings and delete the old one.
    
-   Shopify allows up to 25 active automatic discounts per store at the same time. This includes automatic discounts from Shopify and other apps.
    
-   You can change the code later on the edit page, unless the discount has bulk codes.

## Related

- [Schedule a discount with start and end dates](https://jxngqfpxd.us.gleap.help/en/articles/19-schedule-a-discount-with-start-and-end-dates.md)
- [How OneCode discounts combine with your other discounts](https://jxngqfpxd.us.gleap.help/en/articles/20-how-onecode-discounts-combine-with-your-other-discounts.md)
- [Limit how many times a code can be used](https://jxngqfpxd.us.gleap.help/en/articles/21-limit-how-many-times-a-code-can-be-used.md)
- [Discounts on subscriptions and renewals](https://jxngqfpxd.us.gleap.help/en/articles/22-discounts-on-subscriptions-and-renewals.md)
- [Create bulk discount codes](https://jxngqfpxd.us.gleap.help/en/articles/23-create-bulk-discount-codes.md)