How to Set Up WooCommerce Subscriptions Discount (Easy Steps)

Have you ever dreamed of waking up to a steady stream of income, month after month, without the hustle of constant marketing efforts?

I mean, that’s practically the dream of any online store owner. WooCommerce subscriptions can turn this dream into reality. It transforms one-time purchases into recurring revenue streams, which ultimately makes your business more predictable and profitable.

Customers can also get their favorite products or services automatically without any extra effort. This provides the convenience for your customers and the consistent income for your business.

In the below article, we practically built a subscription-based membership WooCommerce site where you can get a step-by-step walkthrough.

• WooCommerce Membership Site – A Complete Guide

But why stop there?

Let’s add a little extra incentive to your subscription offerings with discounts.

Setting up subscription discounts in WooCommerce is like adding a cherry on top of your already amazing store—who doesn’t love a great deal, right? WooCommerce subscriptions help you tap into the world of recurring revenue, and discounts make it even sweeter for customers to hit that Subscribe Now button without overthinking.

Whether it’s offering new customers a discounted first month or giving loyal subscribers a reward for sticking around, subscription discounts are a game-changer. They don’t just boost your sales—they also keep your customers happy and coming back for more.

In this article, we’ll show you how to set up WooCommerce subscriptions discount in a way that’s simple, effective, and perfect for growing your business. Let’s dive in and get those discounts rolling!

Types of WooCommerce Subscription Discounts

Here are some effective types of WooCommerce subscription discounts you can implement to attract and retain customers:

1. First-Month Discounts

• Percentage Discount: Offer a significant percentage discount on the first month’s subscription fee.
• Fixed Amount Discount: Reduce the first month’s fee by a fixed amount.
• Free Trial: Provide a free trial period to entice new customers.

2. Tiered Discounts

• Volume Discounts: Offer a discount as the customer subscribes to more products or services.
• Long-Term Commitment Discounts: Reward customers who commit to longer subscription terms.
• Tiered Pricing: Offer different price tiers based on the length of the subscription.

3. Bundle Discounts

• Product Bundling: Combine related products or services into a discounted subscription bundle.
• Add-On Discounts: Offer discounted add-ons for existing subscribers.

4. Seasonal Discounts

• Holiday Discounts: Offer special discounts during holidays or seasonal events.
• Off-Peak Discounts: Provide discounts during off-peak seasons to stimulate demand.

5. Referral Discounts

• Refer-a-Friend: Offer a discount to both the referrer and the referred customer.

6. Loyalty Discounts

• Loyalty Program: Reward loyal customers with exclusive discounts and perks.
• Customer Anniversary Discounts: Offer special discounts on the customer’s subscription anniversary.

7. Limited-Time Offers

• Flash Sales: Offer a limited-time discount on specific subscriptions.
• Early Bird Discounts: Reward early subscribers with exclusive discounts.

8. Coupon Codes

• General Discounts: Create coupon codes for a specific percentage or fixed amount discount.
• Targeted Discounts: Target specific customer segments with unique coupon codes.

By strategically implementing these subscription discount strategies, you can boost your customer acquisition, increase customer retention, and maximize your recurring revenue.

Tools Required to Create Subscription Discounts

There are several methods to create subscription discounts in WooCommerce, each with its own advantages and limitations:

1. WooCommerce Subscription Plugin Discount Options

Many WooCommerce subscription plugins offer built-in discount features. These features allow you to set discounts specifically for recurring payments within a subscription.

Popular subscription plugins like WooCommerce Subscriptions or Paid Memberships Pro often include this functionality.

Pros:

• Easy to use if you’re already using a subscription plugin.
• May offer basic discount options like percentage or fixed amount reductions.

Cons:

• Limited flexibility in discount structure.
• May not offer features like time-based discounts or targeted offers.

2. Built-in Coupon Tool (with Subscription Plugin Integration)

WooCommerce has a built-in coupon system that can be used for subscriptions with some limitations. However, several subscription plugins can integrate with the built-in coupon tool to unlock subscription-specific features.

These plugins essentially “teach” the coupon system how to apply discounts to recurring payments.

Pros:

• Leverages the familiarity of the built-in coupon tool.
• May offer slightly more flexibility than basic WooCommerce subscriptions plugin discount​.

Cons:

• Still limited compared to dedicated discount plugins.
• Relies on additional plugins for full functionality.

3. Dedicated Discount Plugin (e.g., Disco)

Dedicated discount plugins like Disco offer a robust set of features specifically designed for creating dynamic and targeted discounts. When paired with a WooCommerce subscriptions plugin, Disco empowers you to create sophisticated discount strategies for your subscriptions.

Why Disco Shines for Subscription Discounts:

• Advanced Features: Disco offers features like time-based discounts, product-specific discounts, and customer-targeted discounts, which allow for much greater flexibility than built-in or basic plugin options.
• Seamless Integration: Disco integrates seamlessly with popular subscription plugins to offer a streamlined experience.
• Disco Conditions: Disco’s conditions provide precise targeting and flexibility for WooCommerce subscriptions. You can apply discounts based on cart subtotals, customer roles, or product quantities, making it easy to reward loyal subscribers or encourage bulk purchases. Time-based conditions allow for limited-time offers while combining multiple conditions lets you craft complex strategies like first-month discounts for specific categories. These tools help drive engagement and long-term customer loyalty.

While WooCommerce subscription plugins and the built-in coupon tool offer basic discount functionality, a dedicated plugin like Disco unlocks the full potential for building effective subscription discount strategies. With its advanced features and seamless integration, Disco helps you create targeted campaigns that boost your customer acquisition, retention, and, ultimately, recurring revenue.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Set Up WooCommerce Subscriptions Discounts

We assume you have already set up a subscription membership store. In the following section, we will demonstrate how to configure a basic user role based discount for subscribed members.

Let’s say you have a subscription plan for your wholesale customers, and you want to offer them a 25% discount on all products. Here’s how you set it up using Disco.

Step 1: Install the WooCommerce Subscriptions Discount Plugin

First things first, go to Plugins >> Add New and search for Disco. After you find it, install and activate it.

Disco generates its own menu on the left panel. Click to visit.

Step 2: Create Discounts for WooCommerce Subscriptions​

Click the “Create a Discount” button to get started. Give your discount rule a name.

Select the Product or Cart option from the Discount Intent section. As we are offering discounts on all products, select the All Products option from the Discount section.

Select the Percentage option from the Product Rules section and input your value.

Next, we need to add a condition.

Step 3: Assign the User Role

Click the Add Condition button to insert a condition to the WooCommerce subscriptions discount rule.

Select the User Role filter from the dropdown. Type in or scroll to select your target user role.

Step 4: Save and Test

Finally, save the discount rule.

Log in as a demo Wholesale member to test it from the front end. All product pages should display the discounted rates by now.

This is how you set WooCommerce subscription price discount for monthly customers using a discount plugin.

Effective WooCommerce Subscription Discount Strategies with Disco

The power of subscription discount strategies lies in exploring different approaches to find what works best for your business. By experimenting with various tactics, you can tailor your offers to meet customer needs and drive more conversions.

The right strategy will not only boost sales but also build long-term customer loyalty. Here are some different WooCommerce subscription discount strategies using Disco, along with examples and their benefits:

How to Create a Subscription Tier-Based Discount Strategy in WooCommerce?

These are the most common subscription types you see on various platforms: monthly, quarterly, and annual plans. Each type offers unique benefits and allows businesses to cater to different customer preferences and maximize revenue.

By offering tier-level discounts, you can create compelling reasons for customers to upgrade to higher subscription plans.

Goal: To incentivize customers to upgrade to higher subscription tiers by offering increasing discounts based on user roles (Elite, Gold, and Platinum). The goal is to provide more significant discounts to higher-tier subscribers, encouraging loyalty and boosting lifetime value.

Step 1: Define the Tiers and Their Benefits

Create three distinct user roles: Elite, Gold, and Platinum. Each role will have access to different subscription plans with varying discounts.

Example of Subscription Plans:

• Platinum Subscription (Top Tier)
  • Benefits: 25% discount on all products, exclusive access to premium products.
  • Price: $100 per month
• Gold Subscription (Mid Tier)
  • Benefits: 15% discount on all products, access to select premium products.
  • Price: $70 per month
• Elite Subscription (Entry Level)
  • Benefits: 5% discount on all products, access to basic products.
  • Price: $40 per month

Step 2: Set Up Subscription-Based Discounts Using Disco

To create discounts for the above 3 user roles, we need to create 3 separate discount rules. Again, here are the discounts we are offering –

• 5% discount on all products for Elite members
• 15% discount on all products for Gold members
• 25% discount on all products for Platinum members

Here are the steps you need to follow in Disco.

1. Create a new discount rule and name it “Elite Member Discount”

2. Select the Product intent and select All Products.

3. Select Percentage and insert your value.

4. Add the User Role condition.

5. Select and set the Elite user role and save the discount.

After that, you need to create the second rule for Gold members. Disco allows you to duplicate existing rules to save you time and effort.

For example, select the Elite Member Discount rule from the dashboard and click Actions>> Duplicate to make a copy of that rule.

After that, go inside that rule and edit the name.

Change the percentage value according to your planned strategy and set the appropriate user role.

Similarly, duplicate and create WooCommerce subscriptions discount for Platinum members.

Now, you can promote your subscription-based deals to all your customers to entice them to upgrade or spend more.

How to Create Time-Based WooCommerce Subscriptions Discount Rules?

Example: Offer a 35% discount for a month to Platinum members during the holiday season.
Benefits: Attracts new subscribers with a low-risk offer, encouraging them to try the service. It helps boost initial conversions.

You can use the same method to offer WooCommerce flash sales, seasonal discounts, or special occasion discounts, such as Black Friday or New Year’s.

Let’s say you want to offer an exclusive discount to top-tier Platinum members in the coming holidays. As stated above, you want to offer them a 35% discount on all products for the entire month.

Here’s how you do it.

1. Select the discount intent and select all products.

2. The Valid Between fields allow you to set a specific time and date.

3. Select the start date for the discount to start.

4. Select the end date for WooCommerce to deactivate the discount campaign.

5. Set your value and user role.

Disco will automatically activate and deactivate the discounts for Platinum members on your set time and date.

How to Offer Cart-Based WooCommerce Subscriptions Discount Rules?

Example:

• 5% discount on all products on $100 or more purchases for Elite members
• 15% discount on all products on $100 or more purchases for Gold members
• 25% discount on all products on $100 or more purchases for Platinum members

Benefits: WooCommerce cart-based discounts encourage higher spending, reward loyal customers, and incentivize upgrades to higher subscription tiers, ultimately increasing sales and customer satisfaction.

Basically, we are offering the same subscription tier-based discount we created earlier, but this time, it is based on cart condition. Disco offers several cart conditions for you to personalize your cart-based discount rule.

For these rules, we will need to add multiple conditions. Disco makes this easy by supporting AND/OR logic, allowing you to combine conditions for precise discounts.

• AND Logic: All conditions must be met (e.g., 5% discount for Elite members with $100+ cart total).
• OR Logic: The discount applies if any condition is met (e.g., 15% discount for Gold members OR $100+ cart total).

Disco’s flexibility lets you mix AND/OR logic to create tailored rules, ensuring targeted and effective WooCommerce subscription discounts.

Here are the steps –

1. Select the Cart option this time and select All Products.

2. Set the value and select the user role.

3. Click the Add Another Condition button.

4. Select AND logic and the Cart Subtotal filter for our current discount strategy.

5. To apply the discount equal to or more than 100 dollars, select the Greater Than Or Equal filter and set the value.

You know the rest of the drills. Duplicate this discount rule from the dashboard and edit them as per your planned values.

Now, your loyal subscribers can avail themselves of the discount amounts when they meet the cart conditions.

How to Offer Bulk WooCommerce Subscriptions Discount?

Example: “Wholesale” customers get –

• 15% off on 5-10 products
• 25% off on 11-20 products
• 35% off on 21+ products

Benefits: WooCommerce bulk discounts increase average order value by incentivizing larger purchases. They appeal to customers with multiple needs.

Here’s how you can set up this rule using Disco.

1. Select the Bulk option and specify your products.

2. In the Bulk Rules section, start inputting your value sets. First, configure the 5-10 range.

3. Next, click the Add More button and set the 11-20 range.

4. And finally, set the third set appropriately.

5. Select and set the user role and save your rule.

You might have noticed we kept the Maximum Quantity field empty for the third set. This means that customers can enjoy 35% off any quantity of over 20.

Here’s how the cart page will return the result for 5-10 products added for Wholesale customers.

This is what it will return for 11-20 products.

A 35% discount should be applied to 21 or more products added to the cart.

How to Create Category-Specific Discount for WooCommerce Subscribers?

Example: Offer a discount on subscriptions for products within a certain category, such as 25% off subscriptions for eco-friendly products.
Benefits: WooCommerce category discounts help promote specific product lines, increasing exposure and sales in targeted categories. Helps guide customer preferences toward desired products.

To set up this rule, follow these steps –

1. Select the discount intent and select All Products to offer WooCommerce subscriptions discount on all products under that category.

2. Set the value and specify your user target user role.

3. Hit the Add Another Condition button and select the Categories filter.

4. Select and set your target category.

Your target subscribers should already start seeing the discount amounts on that category’s product pages.

Overall, the above strategies help businesses tailor their offers to different customer needs, increasing both conversions and customer loyalty.

How to Offer a WooCommerce Subscription Discount Using Membership Plugin?

We have thoroughly demonstrated how to create a subscription-based membership Woo website using the WooCommerce Membership plugin. The plugin allows you to assign product discounts for individual subscription membership plans.

You can create a new membership plan from WooCommerce >> Membership >> Membership Plans and click the Add New Membership button.

We will not discuss all the details in this article and focus only on creating discounts. After you configure the initials, go to the Purchasing Discounts tab.

Click the Add New Discount button.

You can assign discounts based on product or product categories. Specify the category or products from the Title field.

The plugin allows you to set fixed or percentage-based discounts on your products. Select your target option and set the value.

You can add more products and categories according to your planned strategy.

This is how you can set WooCommerce subscriptions discount using a membership plugin.

How to Create WooCommerce Subscriptions Discount Code?

When you have the WooCommerce Membership plugin installed, it adds some extra features to the Coupon tool. You can offer,

• Sign Up Fee Discount: Deduct a fixed amount from the subscription sign-up fee.
• Sign Up Fee % Discount: Reduce a percentage of the subscription sign-up fee.
• Recurring Product Discount: Offer a fixed discount on the recurring subscription cost.
• Recurring % Product Discount: Apply a percentage discount on the recurring subscription cost.

You can also specify a fixed time to create WooCommerce subscription discount for first month​ coupon using the settings. These WooCommerce discount code for subscriptions give you the flexibility to attract new subscribers and reward existing ones with tailored discounts.

Benefits of WooCommerce Subscriptions Discount

Offering WooCommerce subscriptions discount deals brings a multitude of benefits that can boost both your revenue and customer loyalty. Here’s a deeper dive:

1. Increased Revenue & Profitability

• Recurring Revenue Stream: Subscriptions generate consistent and predictable income, which reduces reliance on one-time purchases and improves cash flow.
• Higher Average Order Value: Discounts can incentivize customers to subscribe to higher-tiered plans or add-on products. As a result, they increase the average order value.
• Improved Customer Lifetime Value: By encouraging recurring purchases and reducing customer churn, subscriptions significantly increase the overall revenue generated from each customer.

2. Enhanced Customer Loyalty & Retention

• Reduced Customer Churn: Discounts and exclusive offers can incentivize customers to stay subscribed, reducing customer churn rates.
• Improved Customer Relationships: Offering valuable discounts fosters positive customer relationships and builds brand loyalty.
• Increased Customer Engagement: Discounts and promotions encourage customer interaction and engagement with your brand.

3. Operational Efficiency

• Automated Order Fulfillment: Subscription services streamline order fulfillment processes, saving time and resources.
• Inventory Forecasting: Subscription data provides valuable insights into customer demand, which allows you to plan your inventory better and reduce waste.
• Simplified Customer Management: These deals streamline customer management with automated billing and subscription updates.

4. Marketing & Sales Advantages

• Targeted Marketing: Subscription data allows for highly targeted marketing campaigns based on customer behavior and preferences.
• Improved Customer Segmentation: Segment customers based on subscription plans and purchase history to tailor marketing efforts effectively.
• Reduced Marketing Costs: Retaining existing subscribers through discounts is often more cost-effective than acquiring new customers.

5. Data-Driven Insights

• Valuable Customer Data: Subscription data provides valuable insights into customer behavior, preferences, and purchasing patterns.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Analyze subscription data to optimize pricing, marketing strategies, and product offerings.

By strategically implementing subscription discounts, store owners can leverage the power of recurring revenue, enhance customer loyalty, and achieve sustainable business growth.

Important Tips

• Analyze your data: Track key metrics like conversion rates, customer churn, and revenue per customer to measure the effectiveness of your discount strategies.
• A/B test different discount offers: Experiment with different discount types and amounts to find what resonates most with your target audience.
• Continuously optimize: Regularly review and adjust your WooCommerce subscriptions discount strategies based on your data analysis and market trends.

By implementing these strategies, you can maximize the impact of your WooCommerce subscriptions and build a thriving subscription-based business.

Wrap-Up

Offering strategic discounts for WooCommerce subscriptions can significantly boost customer engagement, encourage sign-ups, and drive long-term loyalty. By leveraging tools like Disco and WooCommerce Membership plugin, you can create tailored discounts that align with your business goals.

Whether it’s offering sign-up discounts, tier-based rewards, or time-sensitive promotions, these strategies provide flexibility to meet customer needs while increasing conversions. Just remember to carefully analyze your discount rules to ensure they drive growth without impacting profitability.