Apple replaced legacy promo codes with Offer Codes. This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to generate Offer Codes in App Store Connect, understand the limits, and distribute them to users without losing them to bots.

Apple Offer Codes: How to Create and Distribute Them in App Store Connect (2026)

Since Apple retired legacy IAP Promo Codes in March 2026, Offer Codes are now the standard way to give users free or discounted access to your paid apps, subscriptions, and in-app purchases.

If you're new to Offer Codes — or if you're coming from the old promo code system — this guide walks you through everything: what they are, how to generate them, the limits you need to know, and how to distribute them without losing them to bots.

What Are Apple Offer Codes?

Offer Codes are one-time-use codes you generate in App Store Connect that give users:

Free access to a paid app or subscription
Discounted pricing (a fixed price or percentage off)
Free trials that extend beyond the standard trial length
Access to a specific subscription tier (e.g., "Premium Annual" instead of just "Premium")

They work for:

One-Time Purchases (paid apps, non-consumable IAPs)
Auto-Renewable Subscriptions (free month, discounted first year, etc.)
Non-Renewing Subscriptions

They do not work for consumable IAPs (like coin packs in games).

Offer Codes vs. Legacy Promo Codes: Key Differences

| Feature | Legacy Promo Codes (Retired) | Offer Codes (Current) | |---------|-------------------------------|----------------------| | Status | Retired March 2026 | Active | | Max per quarter | 100 per app version | 1,000,000 per offer | | Type | App/IAP access | Subscriptions + one-time purchases | | Redemption | Alphanumeric code | Code or direct URL | | Custom codes | No | Yes ("SUMMER2026") | | Eligibility targeting | None | New, existing, or lapsed users |

The big upgrade: you can now generate up to 1 million codes per offer per quarter, and you can create "Custom Codes" — a single code like "WWDC2026" that many users can claim, up to a limit you set.

Step-by-Step: How to Create Offer Codes in App Store Connect

Prerequisites

Before you start, you need:

An active app in App Store Connect
At least one In-App Purchase or Auto-Renewable Subscription configured and approved
Your app must be live on the App Store (not just in review)

Step 1: Navigate to Offer Codes

Log into App Store Connect
Click on My Apps and select your app
In the left sidebar, click Subscriptions (or In-App Purchases for non-subscription products)
Select the specific product you want to create codes for
Scroll down to the Offer Codes section and click + to create a new offer

Step 2: Configure Your Offer

You'll be asked to fill in:

Offer Reference Name — An internal label (not visible to users). Example: "March 2026 Launch Promo"

Offer Type — Choose from:

Free trial (extended duration)
Pay as you go (discounted recurring price)
Pay up front (discounted one-time charge before subscription starts)

Duration — How long the offer lasts. Example: 3 months at $0.

Eligibility — Who can claim this offer:

New subscribers only (most common for giveaways)
Existing subscribers (for loyalty campaigns)
Expired subscribers (for win-back campaigns)

Territories — Which App Store regions the code works in. If you're running a global giveaway, select all territories. Note: codes generated for one territory cannot be redeemed in another.

Step 3: Generate Codes

Once your offer is configured and approved (usually instant for price-change offers), you can generate codes.

One-Time Use Codes:

Click Generate Codes
Enter the quantity (up to 1,000,000 per quarter across all offers for this product)
Set an expiry date (Apple requires codes to expire within 6 months)
Download the CSV of generated codes

Custom Codes (Multi-Use):

Click Create Custom Code
Enter your custom text (e.g., "DEVELOPER2026") — 3-25 alphanumeric characters
Set the maximum number of redemptions (1 to 25,000)
Set expiry date

Custom Codes are great for sharing on social media, at conferences, or in videos — but they're also more vulnerable to abuse (one person can share the code anywhere). Use them when exposure is intentional.

Step 4: Distribute Your Codes

You have several distribution options:

Option A: Redemption URLs (Recommended)

Instead of sharing a raw alphanumeric string, share a direct URL:

https://apps.apple.com/redeem?ctx=offercodes&id=[APP_APPLE_ID]&code=[YOUR_CODE]

When a user taps this link, the App Store opens directly to the redemption screen. Much smoother than asking users to navigate to Settings → App Store → Redeem Code.

Option B: Manual Distribution

Share codes individually via email or DM. Fine for small quantities (under 20), but doesn't scale.

Option C: Automated Queue Distribution

For 50+ codes, use a dedicated distribution platform. Upload your CSV of one-time codes, share a single public URL, and the system:

Serves codes one at a time in a fair queue
Captures email addresses for follow-up
Prevents bots from claiming all codes instantly
Converts to an email waitlist when codes run out

This is the approach used by developers running serious giveaway campaigns.

Offer Code Limits and Gotchas

Quarterly limits: Each product has a pool of 1,000,000 one-time-use codes per calendar quarter. If you distribute more aggressively, you can exhaust this pool.

Territory restrictions: Codes generated for "United States" don't work for users with UK App Store accounts. If you have a global user base, generate codes for each major territory separately.

Expiry dates: All codes must have an expiry date. Apple doesn't allow "no expiry." Plan your campaigns with the 6-month maximum in mind.

Eligible products: Offer Codes work with Auto-Renewable Subscriptions and Non-Renewing Subscriptions. For paid apps (one-time purchase), you can still use the legacy "Promo Codes" system under the app-level settings — this is separate from IAP Offer Codes and was not retired.

Redemption reporting: You can see redemption counts in App Store Connect under Analytics → Sources. Look for "Offer Codes" as a traffic source.

After Distribution: Getting Reviews

The main reason developers run Offer Code giveaways is to generate reviews. Don't forget the follow-up:

Capture emails during distribution
Wait 5-7 days (enough time for users to try the app)
Send a follow-up email asking for an honest review
Include a direct link to your App Store review page: https://apps.apple.com/app/id[APPLE_ID]?action=write-review

This follow-up step is where most developers drop the ball. The code gets claimed but no review appears — because no one asked.

Quick Reference: Offer Code Checklist

[ ] Offer configured and approved in App Store Connect
[ ] Correct territory selected for your audience
[ ] Expiry date set (within 6 months)
[ ] Codes downloaded as CSV
[ ] Distribution method chosen (queue tool recommended for 50+ codes)
[ ] Redemption URLs created (not just raw codes)
[ ] Email capture enabled for follow-up
[ ] Follow-up email scheduled for Day 5-7 post-claim

Running a large Offer Code giveaway? Promo Code Queue was built for exactly this — upload your CSV, share one link, and get automated email capture, bot protection, and analytics.