One code for everyone, or a code per customer?
There are two kinds of discount codes, and they do different jobs.
- A shared code, like
SUMMER20, is easy to remember and good for newsletters, social media and ads. The downside: once it lands on a coupon website, anyone can use it. - Unique codes, like
SALE-K7PX9MTA, can only be used once each. They are good for welcome emails, apologies to unhappy customers, prizes and influencer campaigns, because you know exactly where each code went and it can't spread.
This generator makes the second kind: a batch of codes that are all different and hard to guess.
Tips for good discount codes
- Use a prefix that tells you where the code came from, such as
NL-for the newsletter orIG-for Instagram. Then your sales report shows which channel works. - Use at least 8 random characters for single-use codes. Short codes can be guessed by trying, and some people do.
- Leave out look-alike characters. 0 and O, or 1, I and L, are easy to mix up when typed from a phone.
- Set an end date and a usage limit in your shop system. A code with no limit is a cost with no limit.
- Know what the discount costs you before you send it. Our discount cost calculator shows how many extra sales a coupon needs to pay for itself.
Give the code to people who earn it
The cheapest discount is one that only reaches people who are about to buy anyway, while still making them feel they won something. Instead of a pop-up that hands the code to every visitor, you can let visitors play a short daily puzzle and win the code. Read more about earned discount codes.
Questions and answers
How long should a discount code be?
For a code that many people share, like SUMMER20, short and easy to type is best. For single-use codes, use at least 8 random characters, so nobody can guess a valid code by trying. With 8 characters from 31 letters and digits there are more than 850 billion possible codes.
Why leave out 0, O, 1, I and L?
They look alike in many fonts. When customers type a code from an email or a receipt, a code without look-alike characters gives fewer typos and fewer support emails.
Are the codes really random?
Yes. They are made in your browser with the Web Crypto API, the same random generator browsers use for security. Nothing is sent to our server, and every code in a batch is unique.
How do I import the codes into Shopify?
Download the CSV, then use a bulk discount app, or create a discount in Shopify admin and add the codes there. In WooCommerce you can import coupons with a CSV import plugin. Most platforms want one code per line, which is what the CSV gives you.