---
title: "Subscriptions"
description: "Choose whether a discount applies to one-time purchases, subscriptions, or both, and how many renewals get it."
url: https://rmewfqxya.us.gleap.help/en/articles/11-subscriptions
collection: "Building rules"
updated: 2026-10-29
language: en
---

# Subscriptions

Choose whether a discount applies to one-time purchases, subscriptions, or both, and how many renewals get it.

Subscriptions are controlled in two places: the **Purchase type** setting, and the optional **Has subscription** condition.

## Purchase type

In the **Purchase type** card, **Applies to** has three options:

-   **One-time purchases** (the default)
    
-   **Subscription purchases**
    
-   **Both one-time & subscription**
    

If you include subscriptions, choose how many payments get the discount under **Recurring payments for subscriptions**:

-   **Limit discount to the first payment**
    
-   **Limit discount to multiple recurring payments** (2 or more)
    
-   **Discount applies to all recurring payments**
    

If your store doesn't sell subscriptions, this setting is locked to One-time purchases.

## Has subscription condition

Use this condition to control eligibility based on what's in the cart:

-   **Contains subscription**: at least one subscription item.
    
-   **Does not contain subscription**: no subscription items at all.
    
-   **Subscription only**: every item is a subscription.
    
-   **Mixed (subscription + one-time)**: at least one of each.
    

## Examples

**Free shipping on subscriptions only.** Set Purchase type to **Subscription purchases**, and choose how many renewals get it.

**One-time orders only, no subscriptions in the cart at all.** Set Purchase type to **One-time purchases**, and add **Has subscription → Does not contain subscription**. This also excludes mixed carts.

## Good to know

-   **"First payment" means the first order of each subscription**, not the customer's first order ever. A customer who starts a second subscription gets the discount on that one's first payment too.
    
-   **Renewal shipping is often set by your subscription app.** Some apps (for example Loop) recalculate shipping on renewals using their own settings. If renewals are charged shipping when they shouldn't be, check your subscription app's shipping settings too.
    
-   An item counts as a subscription only if it's sold on a recurring selling plan. Pre-orders and try-before-you-buy plans count as one-time items.
    
-   Works with subscription apps that use Shopify's selling plans.
    
-   Subscription items count toward Cart total and Cart subtotal like any other item.