How to Create Subscription Renewal Discounts in WooCommerce?

Running a subscription-based WooCommerce store? Then you already know how important renewal retention is. It is the heart of any subscription-based business. 

When selling memberships, digital products, or recurring services, every store owner faces this challenge — keeping subscribers engaged long-term. Most subscribers hesitate to renew unless they feel rewarded!

That’s where a WooCommerce discount for subscription renewals can make all the difference.

Offering renewal discounts is one of the simplest and most effective ways to:

• Boost recurring revenue,
• Reduce churn rate, and
• Encourage long-term loyalty.

When subscribers feel rewarded, they’re far more likely to continue, and even upgrade.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn what a subscription renewal discount is, how it works in WooCommerce, and exactly how to set it up using the “Discount Rules for WooCommerce –Pro” plugin (and optionally with the “WPLoyalty” plugin, for loyalty-based renewal rewards).

Let’s dive in.

What is a Subscription Renewal Discount in WooCommerce?

A subscription renewal discount is a reward or incentive applied when an existing subscriber renews their subscription, whether automatically or manually.

For example:

• 10% off on your next renewal for staying subscribed, or
• “Renew for 3 months and get 1 month free.”

These renewal incentives encourage subscribers to stay active longer and feel valued for their loyalty.

You can also offer:

• Auto-renewal discounts (for customers with auto-billing enabled),
• Recurring subscription discounts (applied every renewal cycle), or
• One-time renewal discounts (on the first renewal).

Benefits of Offering Subscription Renewal Discounts in WooCommerce

Here’s why WooCommerce subscription renewal discounts are a proven retention strategy:

1. Reduce Customer Churn

Renewal discounts give customers a reason to continue rather than cancel after the first billing cycle.

2. Increase Lifetime Value (LTV)

Even a small WooCommerce percentage discount on renewals can lead to long-term profits as customers stay subscribed longer.

3. Reward Loyal Subscribers

Providing discounts shows appreciation for loyal customers who consistently renew their plans.

4. Encourage Auto-Renewal Adoption

Offering discounts while they purchase can motivate them to enable auto-renewal, making retention nearly effortless.

5. Create Predictable Recurring Revenue

A solid renewal discount strategy helps you forecast future income with more accuracy.

Does WooCommerce Support Renewal Discounts by Default?

By default, WooCommerce Subscriptions doesn’t include a built-in feature to apply renewal discounts automatically. 

You can create a generic coupon, but it will apply only during checkout, not during automatic renewals.

That means if your customers’ subscriptions renew automatically, they won’t receive renewal discounts unless you use a plugin that extends WooCommerce’s discount rules.

That’s where “Discount Rules for WooCommerce –Pro” comes in. It lets you create advanced conditional discounts, such as subscription renewal offers, membership renewal discounts, and recurring incentives, without any coding.

Plugins That Help You Manage Renewal Discounts

1. Discount Rules for WooCommerce – Pro(Recommended)

This plugin allows you to:

• Create renewal-only discounts.
• Apply conditions like user roles, subscription type, or renewal count.
• Automatically apply discounts without requiring a coupon.

2. WPLoyalty(For Point-Based Rewards)

If you want to reward renewals with points instead of direct discounts, WPLoyalty works seamlessly with Discount Rules Pro to create loyalty-driven renewal incentives.

How to Create a WooCommerce Discount for Subscription Renewals?

Now let’s get practical. Here’s how to create renewal discounts using Discount Rules for WooCommerce – Pro.

1: Install Discount Rules for WooCommerce – Pro

• Go to “WordPress Dashboard → Plugins → Add New.”
• Search for “Discount Rules for WooCommerce.”
• Click the “Install” button to install the plugin and activate it on your dashboard.
• Note: You can also upgrade to the “Pro” version of this plugin to access advanced discount features.

2: Create a New Discount Rule

• After activation, you’ll find a new menu: “WooCommerce → Discount Rules.”
• Click “Add New Rule.”
• Name your rule by entering the “Rule Title,” just for your reference. (e.g., “10% Subscription Renewal Discount”).
• Select “Product Adjustment” as your Discount Type.
• Choose your “subscription products” under the Filter Section.

3: Define Your Discount Value

• In the Discount Section, set:
  • Discount Type: Percentage Discount or Fixed Amount.
  • Value: e.g., “10” for 10% off.

Optionally, you can make it stackable with other offers or limit it to specific users. 

4: Set Renewal-Specific Conditions

• Under “Rules Section → Add Condition.”
• You can choose:
  • User Role = Subscriber,
  • Customer Orders ≥ 2 (loyal users),
  • Optional, Subscription Category = Premium.

This ensures your discount triggers only during renewal orders.

5: Limit and Schedule the Offer

Under “Rule Limits,” you can:

• Add “start and end dates” for limited-time renewal campaigns.
• Restrict the number of renewals eligible for the discount.
• Limit discount usage per customer.

This creates urgency and control over offer performance.

6: Save and Test

Click “Save & Enable.”
Now, test your rule:

• Renew a subscription manually, or
• Wait for an automatic renewal cycle.

You’ll see the discount automatically applied to renewal orders only.

7: (Optional) Combine with WPLoyalty for Renewal Rewards

You can take your renewal strategy further by rewarding points using WPLoyalty.

Example setup:

• Go to “Plugins → Add New.”
• Search for “WPLoyalty.”
• Click “Install and Activate.”
• Go to “WPLoyalty → Campaigns → Create New.”
• Choose “Earn Points” on Subscription Renewal.
• Offer 50 points for each successful renewal.

Customers can redeem these points for future discounts, gift cards, or free months, creating a continuous incentive cycle.

To know more about the WPLoyalty plugin or how to add reward points, check this blog: How to Create a Point Reward System That Customers Love!

Steps to Track Renewal Discount Performance

You can track discount performance directly inside WooCommerce and the plugin dashboard.

1. WooCommerce Analytics

View overall sales, renewal revenue spikes, and recurring order trends.

2. Discount Rules Pro Reports

See which discount rules drive the most renewals.
Track metrics like:

• Number of renewal orders with discounts,
• Total revenue generated, and
• Increase in subscription lifetime value.

Analyzing these reports helps fine-tune your future campaigns for better ROI.

Troubleshooting: Why Renewal Discounts May Not Apply

If your renewal discounts don’t apply, check the following:

• Auto-renewals vs manual renewals: Discounts apply only during renewal orders created by the system (not the original order).
• Plugin version mismatch: Ensure both WooCommerce Subscriptions and Discount Rules Pro are up-to-date.
• Conflicting rules: Avoid multiple discount rules targeting the same subscription product.
• Discount Rule not activated: Confirm the rule is enabled under “Discount Rules → All Rules.”
• Cache issues: Clear browser or site cache to ensure the discount triggers correctly.

If it still doesn’t apply, contact the plugin support team — they can guide you through rule-specific troubleshooting.

Examples of Subscription Renewal Discount Scenarios

Here are a few creative ways to use WooCommerce subscription renewal discounts:

1. First Renewal Incentive
Offer a 20% discount on the first renewal to motivate customers to stay subscribed after the trial period.

2. Loyalty-Based Renewal Reward
Reward users who have been subscribed for over 6 months with a recurring 10% renewal discount.

3. Auto-Renewal Discount
Encourage subscribers to enable auto-renewal by offering an additional 5% off for auto-renewal users.

4. Membership Renewal Discount
If you run a membership site, offer 15% off on annual plan renewals as a loyalty thank-you.

5. Renewal Reminder Campaigns

Send automated emails with renewal coupons a few days before subscription expiry to win back lapsed customers.

6. Anniversary Rewards

Celebrate subscription anniversaries with exclusive one-time discounts.

7. Tiered Renewal Offers

Increase the discount value the longer they stay subscribed. For example, 5% for the first year, 10% for the second.

Tips to Create the Best Subscription Renewal Discounts

Here are a few tips to make your renewal discounts effective:

1. Offer limited-time renewal deals: Create urgency with short-term offers like “Renew before Sunday midnight!”
2. Offer tiered renewal rewards: The longer the customer stays, the better the discount.
3. Send personalized renewal emails: Include customer names and mention their upcoming renewal dates.
4. Personalize your offers: Send “Thank you for staying with us” emails with exclusive renewal codes.
5. Promote renewal deals: Add banners or pop-ups highlighting the offer near subscription renewal pages.
6. Bundle with loyalty points: Reward renewals through WPLoyalty to encourage longer retention.
7. Highlight savings: Display “You saved $X on renewal” during checkout.
8. Use clear messaging: Let customers know that their discount applies only to renewals.
9. A/B test different offers: Try fixed vs. percentage discounts and compare performance.

Pro Tip: Use the reports in “Discount Rules → Reports Tab” to monitor how many renewal orders benefited from discounts and how much additional retention they generated.

Comparison: Default WooCommerce vs Discount Rules Pro vs WPLoyalty (for Renewal Discounts Features)

Feature	Native WooCommerce Subscriptions	Discount Rules for WooCommerce – Pro	WPLoyalty
Renewal Discount Support	❌ Not available by default	✅ Fully supported with rule-based setup	✅ Supported through reward-based incentives
Discount Types	Limited to one-time coupons	Percentage, fixed, recurring, tiered, BOGO	Points, cashback, loyalty rewards
Automatic Renewal Discounts	⚠️ Manual entry required	✅ Auto-apply rules based on renewal triggers	✅ Automatic through campaign setup
User Role or Customer Targeting	❌ Not supported	✅ Supported for roles, users, and groups	✅ Supported based on loyalty tiers
Recurring Discounts	⚠️ Requires code/custom add-ons	✅ Built-in recurring discount feature	✅ Convert renewals into recurring rewards
Coupon Setup	Basic “Marketing → Coupons”	Advanced “Discount Rules → Add Rule”	Simple “WPLoyalty → Campaigns”
Advanced Conditions	❌ Not available	✅ Available (product, category, cart, date, user role)	✅ Event-based (renewal, referral, purchase)
Coding Required	✅ Sometimes	❌ No coding needed	❌ No coding needed
Ease of Use	⭐⭐ Basic	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Intuitive	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Easy to manage
Ideal Users	Beginners with basic needs	Store owners want control over renewal rules	Businesses focused on loyalty and retention
Integration with Woo Subscriptions	✅ Native	✅ Seamless	✅ Works alongside Subscriptions
Pricing	Free core + Pro version cost varies based on plugins added.	Free + Pro starts from $59/year for a single site.	Free + Pro starts from $74/year
Support	WooCommerce Docs	Dedicated Flycart support	WPLoyalty support team

Comparison Summary

When it comes to offering renewal-based discounts in WooCommerce, choosing the right method can save time and increase subscriber retention.

Native WooCommerce Subscriptions provides only basic renewal management. It lacks direct renewal-discount options, meaning you’ll need manual coupon entry or a custom code to reward renewing customers. While sufficient for simple stores, it offers little flexibility.

Discount Rules for WooCommerce – Pro, on the other hand, is a full-featured discount management plugin that allows store owners to set up automated renewal discounts with ease. You can create rules based on specific users, user roles, products, or cart values, and apply them automatically during renewals, no coding required. This is ideal for anyone who wants to encourage renewals, boost subscription retention, and simplify discount automation.

WPLoyalty takes a slightly different approach. Instead of direct price reductions, it offers renewal incentives through loyalty points, cashback, or membership rewards. It’s a great option for stores that want to combine renewal motivation with long-term loyalty strategies, rewarding customers for each renewal, referral, or milestone achieved.

In short:

• Choose WooCommerce Subscriptions for simple recurring setups.
• Choose Discount Rules Pro for flexible, automated renewal discounts.
• Choose WPLoyalty to reward renewals with loyalty points or cashback.

Together, Discount Rules Pro and WPLoyalty give store owners complete control over both immediate renewal discounts and ongoing customer retention.

Conclusion: Turn Renewals into Long-Term Loyalty

Offering a WooCommerce subscription renewal discount is one of the smartest ways to retain subscribers and reduce churn.

Using “Discount Rules for WooCommerce – Pro,” you can:

• Create flexible renewal-only discounts that reward loyal customers automatically — no coding required.
• Automate renewal-only discounts,
• Personalize incentives by user role or loyalty level, and

And when you integrate it with “WPLoyalty,” you can go even further — creating ongoing reward systems for loyal subscribers.

Start today — make every renewal a reason for customers to stay.

Also Read:

1. Two Ways to Create Discount Coupons in WooCommerce Stores
2. 10+ Best WooCommerce Discount Plugins for 2025 to Boost Sales

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)