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How to Create and Manage Promo Codes

Last updated March 28, 20262 min read
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How to Create and Manage Promo Codes

2 min read · Events & Tickets

How to Create and Manage Promo Codes

Promo codes let you offer discounts to buyers at checkout. They are available on all tiers, including Free.

Creating a promo code

  1. Go to Dashboard > Events > [Your Event] > Promo Codes.
  2. Click Create Promo Code.
  3. Fill in the details:
  • Code: The text buyers enter at checkout (e.g., EARLYBIRD, VIP50).
  • Discount type: Choose Percentage (e.g., 20% off) or Fixed amount (e.g., $10 off).
  • Discount value: The percentage (up to 100%) or the fixed amount in your event's currency.
  • Usage limit: Maximum total number of times this code can be used. Leave blank for unlimited.
  • Per-email limit: Maximum times one email address can use this code. Defaults to 1, preventing the same buyer from reusing it.
  • Minimum ticket count (optional): Require the buyer to purchase at least this many tickets to apply the code.
  • Date range (optional): Set a starts at and expires at to control when the code is active.
  1. Click Save.

How promo codes work at checkout

  • The buyer enters the code in the promo code field during checkout.
  • The system validates the code: is it active, within the date range, under the usage limit, and valid for the buyer's email?
  • If valid, the discount is applied to the ticket price before payment.
  • For fixed amount codes, the discount is applied per ticket. A $10 code on 3 tickets saves $30 total.
  • The usage count is incremented when checkout completes and decremented if the checkout session expires.

Scoping promo codes

Promo codes can be scoped in two ways:

  • Event-specific: The code only works for the event it was created under.
  • Organization-level: Create codes under your org settings to apply across multiple events.

Managing existing codes

From the promo codes list, you can:

  • View usage stats: See how many times a code has been used and its remaining uses.
  • Edit: Update the usage limit, date range, or per-email limit.
  • Deactivate: Disable a code so it can no longer be used at checkout.

Tips for effective promo codes

  • Early bird pricing: Create a percentage discount with an expiration date to reward early buyers.
  • Group discounts: Set a minimum ticket count (e.g., 5) with a percentage discount to encourage group purchases.
  • Partner codes: Create unique codes for partners or sponsors with specific usage limits.
  • Flash sales: Use tight date ranges (e.g., 24 hours) to create urgency.

Anti-abuse protections

The system includes built-in protections:

  • Per-email limits prevent a single buyer from reusing a code.
  • Rate limiting: Buyers are limited to 5 promo code attempts per event per 5 minutes.
  • Usage counts are atomic: Two simultaneous checkouts cannot both use the last available redemption.

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How to Create and Manage Promo Codes — Equaticket Organizer Help