How Coupon Duration Works on Subscription Products

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

When you create or edit a coupon, choose how long the discount applies to a subscription: once, forever, or for a set number of months. The duration is independent of billing frequency.

Coupons in Sparkforge can apply for a single payment, for the life of the subscription, or for a fixed number of months. Pick the duration when you build the coupon — it shows up on every subscription it touches.

Set the duration

Go to Coupons and either Create Coupon or Edit Coupon.
In the discount settings, find the checkbox Also apply to recurring/future payments based on a duration or forever, if applicable.
Check the box and pick a duration option:
- Forever: the discount applies to every recurring payment.
- Multiple Months: the discount applies for the number of months you enter, then stops.

How it behaves on subscriptions

Duration only matters for subscription products. On a one-time product, the coupon applies once and the duration setting is ignored.

Once: applied to the first payment only.
Forever: applied to every recurring payment for the life of the subscription.
Multiple Months: applied for the defined number of months, then stops.

The Subscription Details and Order Details pages show the applied discount with phrasing like 10% off for first 4 months, $10 off for 1st month, or 10% off for all payments.

Examples

Monthly subscription, Multiple Months = 4: the coupon applies for four months from the date of application, whether the subscription starts active or in trial.
Annual subscription, Forever: the coupon applies on every annual renewal for the life of the subscription.
Annual subscription, Multiple Months = 4: the coupon does not apply to the year-two renewal, because the four months end before the next charge.
Weekly subscription, Multiple Months = 2: the coupon applies for the next two months, roughly eight weekly charges, then stops.

Notes

Subscription frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually) does not change how many payments receive the discount — only the duration setting does.
For scheduled subscriptions, the duration starts on the scheduled subscription start date, whether active or trial.
Existing coupons keep their previous behavior. If the duration checkbox was already on, the default is Forever; otherwise it defaults to Once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does coupon duration apply to one-time products?

No. On a one-time product the coupon applies once and the duration setting has no effect.

What does Multiple Months = 4 mean on an annual subscription?

The discount applies during those four months, but because the next renewal is twelve months out, the year-two renewal is not discounted.

When does the duration clock start?

From the date the coupon is applied. For scheduled subscriptions, that is the scheduled start date — active or trial.

How are existing coupons handled?

If the duration checkbox was previously enabled, existing coupons default to Forever. If it was off, they default to Once.