Award app credits

You can use the Partner API to give credits to merchants who've installed your app. You can also award app credits using the Partner Dashboard. Merchants can use these app credits to get discounts on future app purchases, monthly subscription fees, and usage charges.

Anchor to How it worksHow it works

When you award merchants app credits, the amount is withdrawn from your Partner account based on your revenue share.

There are two scenarios to understand regarding revenue deduction:

• No revenue deduction: If the app credit is applied to a pending charge (such as an unpaid invoice), you won't see a deduction from your revenue share.
• Revenue deduction: You'll only see a deduction when the app credit amount exceeds any pending charges on the merchant's account.

In other words, Shopify won't deduct from your revenue share for credits that offset amounts the merchant hasn't paid yet.

To use the Partner API, you'll need to implement triggers for the charge, such as when a merchant installs an app, upgrades their service plan, or makes an individual purchase.

Anchor to Award app credits using the Partner APIAward app credits using the Partner API

To award store credits for your app, you can use the Partner API's appCreditCreate mutation.

Anchor to Award app credits from the Partner DashboardAward app credits from the Partner Dashboard

1. Log in to your Partner Dashboard.
2. In the search bar of the Partner Dashboard, enter the name of the store that you want to award app credits to.
3. In the search results, select the store.
4. On the right side of the store page, next to the App credits card, click Send.
5. On the App credits page, select the associated app name.
6. Specify the currency and amount to credit.
7. Optional: Add a note with the reason for awarding credits.
8. Click Send.

If the app credit was successfully awarded, a new event displays on the store's page in your Partner Dashboard, and the merchant receiving the app credit can view the sent amount in the Billing section of their Shopify admin.

Anchor to Required permissionsRequired permissions

Owners can issue app credits by default. Staff members can issue app credits if they have the Manage credits and refunds permission.

Learn more about managing staff member permissions.

Anchor to LimitationsLimitations

The total amount of credits can't exceed the total amount of pending payouts in your Partner account.

Anchor to Next stepsNext steps

Best practices

Learn best practices for app billing.