Understand discount eligibility and limits
A valid code still needs an eligible purchase. Read its selected subscriptions, date window and remaining activation capacity together.
This guide uses the fictional CJNOV20 campaign from Create a promo code: 20% off the selected Monthly subscription under Reporting, between the two configured dates, with a limit of 100 recorded activations.
Read each condition separately
| Condition | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Publication and code | The promotion must be found in the purchase's publication. |
| Plans and subscriptions | With Available for all plans unchecked, the purchased subscription must be one of the selected subscriptions. |
| Availability dates | When the code can be used. These dates do not specify how many subscription periods receive a discount. |
| Activations limit | A positive limit caps recorded activation rows for the code across readers. Unlimited removes that count cap. |
| Subscription and reader eligibility | The selected subscription must be available for the purchase. Existing ownership and a subscription's once-only purchase restriction can affect whether the reader may purchase it. |
The example selects one subscription and leaves the all-item checkboxes unchecked. It does not target a reader's email domain or guarantee one use per reader. A limit of 100 is not a promise of 100 distinct paying readers.
Both date endpoints are configured in this example. The form displays dates, while validation uses stored times; no reader-timezone or end-of-day guarantee follows from the date label.
Work through the percentage calculation
Assume the selected subscription costs USD10.00, the code is eligible and within its dates and count limit, and no trial or upgrade-price adjustment applies.
| Step | Example amount |
|---|---|
| Subscription price used for this calculation | USD10.00 |
| Promo percentage | 20% |
| Discount: USD10.00 × 20% | USD2.00 |
| Subscription subtotal: USD10.00 − USD2.00 | USD8.00 |
This is the subscription subtotal before tax and fees, not a promise of the final charged total. Percentage calculations use the price being calculated; trial or upgrade adjustments can change that price first. Where the percentage produces a fraction of a minor currency unit, the discount rounds upward to the next whole minor unit. The subtotal is not allowed to fall below zero.
The form also supports amount, a fixed monetary discount with a currency selection. The worked campaign uses percent; changing the type changes the meaning of the Discount field.
Keep use, payment and future periods separate
Code validation checks its context, dates and count. It does not by itself confirm that the chosen subscription receives a discount. A calculation result describes an amount; it is not a successful payment.
A recorded activation can be created during payment preparation before the provider succeeds. It can therefore consume the activation allowance even when the payment does not succeed. See Review a promo code and its usage.
This campaign form does not set a number of discounted renewal periods. Do not promise the example's USD8.00 subtotal for later renewals based on these settings.
Your next step
Review the saved campaign against the intended subscription and conditions. Use Create a promo code for the form or Review a promo code and its usage to inspect a saved record.