How to Create Shareable Discount Links in Shopify (2 Methods)

Shareable discount links let you send customers a URL that automatically applies a discount to their cart — no code entry required. They're perfect for email campaigns, influencer partnerships, VIP early access, and social media promotions.

This guide covers two approaches: Shopify's built-in method (free) and using Hype Discounts (paid, with advanced features).

Why Shareable Discount Links Work

Traditional discount codes have friction. Customers need to:

• Remember or copy the code
• Find the discount field at checkout
• Hope they didn't mistype it

Every step is a drop-off point. Shareable links eliminate this entirely — click the link, shop, and the discount is already applied.

They're especially powerful for:

• Email campaigns — One click from inbox to discounted checkout
• Influencer/affiliate promotions — Unique links per partner
• VIP/early access sales — Private links for select customers
• QR codes — Print campaigns that work instantly

Method 1: Shopify's Native Shareable Links (Free)

Shopify has built-in support for discount links. Here's how to set one up:

Step 1: Create a Discount Code

1. Go to Discounts in your Shopify admin
2. Click Create discount → Discount code
3. Configure your discount (percentage off, fixed amount, free shipping, etc.)
4. Set any conditions (minimum purchase, specific products, usage limits)
5. Save the discount

Step 2: Get the Shareable Link

After saving, click Promote → Get a shareable link.

Shopify generates a URL in this format:

https://yourstore.com/discount/YOURCODE

When customers click this link, they land on your homepage with the discount code automatically applied to their session.

Step 3: Share the Link

Use the link in:

• Email campaigns
• Social media posts
• SMS messages
• QR codes (use Shopify's QR code generator or any third-party tool)

Limitations of Native Shopify Links

The built-in approach is simple and free, but has constraints:

• No visual feedback — Customers don't see discounted prices while browsing. They only see the discount at checkout.
• Homepage only — The link lands on your homepage. You can manually append a path (/discount/CODE?redirect=/collections/sale) but it requires extra setup.
• No market-specific pricing — You can't show different discount values for different Shopify Markets.
• No UI elements — No banners, progress bars, or other on-site indicators that a discount is active.
• Basic tracking — Limited visibility into link performance beyond standard discount reporting.

For simple promotions, these limitations don't matter. For more sophisticated campaigns, they do.

Method 2: Hype Discounts (Advanced)

Hype is a Shopify app that extends discount functionality with shareable "Link Campaigns" — discount links that include live storefront pricing and customizable UI blocks.

What Hype Adds

Live Pricing on the Storefront

When a customer clicks a Hype link, they see discounted prices everywhere — product pages, collection pages, even the homepage. Strikethrough pricing shows the original price crossed out with the sale price next to it.

This matters because customers see the value immediately, not just at checkout.

UI Blocks

Hype includes pre-built components you can add to your theme without code:

• Announcement bars ("You've unlocked 20% off!")
• Product page banners
• Cart progress bars ("Spend ₹500 more for free shipping")
• Toast notifications when discounts apply

These reinforce the promotion throughout the shopping experience.

Multi-Market Support

If you sell in multiple Shopify Markets, Hype lets you set different discount values per market. A "20% off" campaign in the US can be "₹500 off" in India — same link, localized pricing.

Link Persistence

The discount stays active in the customer's session until checkout. If they leave and come back, it's still there. If the campaign expires, Hype shows a fallback message instead of a confusing error.

Private Campaigns

Link campaigns in Hype are "private" by default — the discount only applies to customers who have the link. Others browsing your store see regular prices. This is ideal for:

• VIP early access (send links to your email list before a public sale)
• Influencer-specific promotions
• B2B pricing for select accounts

Setting Up a Hype Link Campaign

1. Install Hype Discounts from the Shopify App Store
2. Create a new Link Campaign
3. Configure your discount type:
   • Amount off order
   • Multi-value (different discounts per product/collection)
   • Gift with purchase
   • Tiered cart discounts
   • Volume discounts
4. Set up UI blocks (optional) — banners, progress bars, etc.
5. Enable live pricing (optional) — configure which price elements to update
6. Save and copy your shareable link

The link format looks like:

https://yourstore.com?hype_campaign=UNIQUE_ID

Hype Pricing

Hype is a paid app with tiered pricing based on store size. The cost makes sense for stores running frequent promotions, multi-market campaigns, or needing visible storefront pricing. For occasional simple discounts, native Shopify is fine.

Which Method Should You Use?

Use native Shopify links if:

• You're running simple, occasional promotions
• You don't need customers to see discounted prices while browsing
• You're on a tight budget
• Your discounts are straightforward (X% off everything)

Use Hype if:

• You want customers to see sale prices on product pages, not just at checkout
• You're running VIP/early access campaigns where only link holders see the discount
• You sell in multiple markets and need localized discount values
• You want on-site UI elements (banners, progress bars) to reinforce promotions
• You run frequent, complex promotions and need a centralized dashboard

Quick Comparison

Final Thoughts

Shareable discount links remove friction from promotions. Shopify's native approach handles the basics well and costs nothing. If you need customers to see discounted prices before checkout, want visual reinforcement throughout their session, or run complex multi-market campaigns, Hype fills those gaps.

Start with native links. If you hit their limitations, you'll know it's time to upgrade.