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When you award merchants app credits, the amount is withdrawn from your Partner account based on your revenue share.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

1. In the Dev Dashboard, open your app. On its Overview, in the Installs card, click the install count to open Current installs.
2. Click the store that you want to award app credits to.
3. Open the ⋮ menu, and then click Send app credit.
4. Enter the Amount, and select the Currency.
5. Under Note, enter the reason for the credit. The note is required, and it's visible to you and Shopify Support.
6. Click Continue, review the credit, and then click Send.

Shopify emails the merchant about the credit, and the credit appears in the Activity card on the store's app history page. The merchant can view the sent amount in the Billing section of their Shopify admin.

You can also send app credits from the Partner Dashboard: search for the store, select it, and then next to App credits, click Send. Then select your app and complete the form.

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 Partner organization 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.