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Posted on Originally published at proofline.link

Apple retired in-app purchase promo codes: what to do now for creator programs

#ios #mobile #saas #indiehackers

Originally published at proofline.link/blog/apple-retired-in-app-purchase-promo-codes.

If you ran a creator program on promo codes, the spreadsheet with “SARAH = 50 codes” stopped working this spring. On 26 March 2026, Apple stopped letting developers create new promo codes for in-app purchases. Offer codes are now the only code path, and they cover every in-app purchase type.

That sounds like a loss. For creator and affiliate programs on iOS, it is actually an upgrade — if you set it up right.

What changed

  • Promo codes for in-app purchases: No new ones can be created. They were free-access codes generated in small batches, with no way to know which creator a redemption came from unless you tracked batches by hand.
  • Offer codes: A code attached to an offer (a discount or a free trial period) on your in-app purchases and subscriptions. They now cover subscriptions and all other in-app purchase types.

Why offer codes are better for creator programs

  1. The App Store tells you which code was used. When someone redeems an offer code, Apple’s transaction confirms it directly: the offerType field marks it as an offer code, and offerIdentifier identifies the offer. RevenueCat also passes an offer_code field in its webhooks. That is store-verified attribution rather than a probabilistic guess.
  2. Custom codes work per creator. A custom code like SARAH20 can be shared publicly in a TikTok caption, Instagram Reel, YouTube description, or podcast read.
  3. Direct App Store redemption links work inside TikTok and Instagram. Universal links frequently break inside TikTok and Instagram in-app browsers. However, Apple’s offer-code redemption URL opens the App Store directly with the creator’s code applied: 
https://apps.apple.com/redeem?ctx=offercodes&id={appStoreId}&code={code}
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Redeeming through this link also installs the app. That means the subscription conversion happens in the App Store first, with Apple recording which creator’s code was used — with zero IDFA tracking or ATT prompts required.

The limits to plan around

Limit What it means
Custom code length Up to 64 characters, letters and digits only, and cannot be edited after creation
Codes per app 1,000,000 per quarter, shared across all your in-app purchases
Per customer One redemption per offer
Expiry One-time codes last up to 6 months; custom codes can run without an end date
An offer is required Every code needs a discount or a free period

A 7-step plan for subscription app creator programs

  1. List your creators and where they post. Anyone who shares a code publicly needs a custom code.
  2. Create an offer per subscription you promote (e.g., “Creator: 20% off for 3 months”). Model the discount cost — it usually lifts conversion enough to pay for itself.
  3. Give each creator a custom code on that offer (SARAH20, LEO15). Validate every code before creating it since Apple doesn’t allow edits.
  4. Set redemption limits with headroom and reissue the same code when it runs low.
  5. Put the App Store redemption link behind every creator smart link, so fans tapping from TikTok and Instagram land directly in the App Store with the code pre-applied.
  6. Record redemptions as the creator’s sales from Apple’s App Store Server Notifications or RevenueCat’s offer_code webhook field, and tie renewals to the user via appAccountToken.
  7. Keep in-app code entry on your paywall for podcast and video mentions where viewers type the code directly.

Want this automated with receipts and 0% revenue cut?

We built Proofline so subscription apps on iOS and Android can pay creators for verified subscribers, not views:

  • Smart links + Apple Offer Codes + Google Play Install Referrer that survive TikTok and Instagram in-app browsers.
  • One-click webhook setup with RevenueCat, App Store Server Notifications, Google Play RTDN, Stripe, Superwall, Adapty, and Apphud.
  • Cryptographic-grade receipts (Tier V · Verified) for every payout, with automatic 30-day refund holds and net-revenue commission math.
  • Flat pricing ($0 free up to $1k/mo creator sales, $79/mo Growth up to $15k/mo) — never a percentage cut of your affiliate revenue.

Try the free Offer Code Planner or start free at https://proofline.link.

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