In-app offer code / promo code rules that affect live-ops packs
Analysis
By UA Ledger staff — 1 min read
Apple offer-code caps and Google Play promo-code limits change how live-ops packs can be experimented. Dated platform rules, not folklore.
Store promo-code policy is a live-ops constraint. Caps and eligibility rules change which pack experiments you can actually run.
Apple (body-read)
Implementing offer codes in your app states offer codes apply to all Apple IAP types (consumables, non-consumables, non-renewing and auto-renewable subscriptions) and can be redeemed in the App Store, via redemption URLs, or in-app via StoreKit APIs. App Store Connect help Create offer codes for In-App Purchases (body-read 20 September 2026) documents up to 10 active offers at a time and up to 1,000,000 codes per app per quarter, with configurable eligibility (never purchased / purchased in last 30 days / purchased more than 30 days ago).
Google Play (body-read)
Create promotions and Promo codes document 500 promo codes per quarter across non-subscription promotions in an app, and up to 10,000 one-time subscription promo codes per quarter per subscription product. Unused codes do not carry to the next quarter. Custom subscription codes have separate redemption limits. Deep-link format: https://play.google.com/redeem?code=promo_code.
Operator action for live-ops packs
| Field | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Apple active offers cap | 10 per app |
| Apple codes / quarter | 1,000,000 per app |
| Play non-subscription codes / quarter | 500 per app |
| Play subscription one-time codes / quarter | 10,000 per subscription product |
| Carry-over of unused Play codes | None |
| UA implication | Do not plan mass code drops that exceed quarterly caps; separate pack SKU tests from code tests in reporting |
Facts vs limits
| Fact | Limit |
|---|---|
| Caps and eligibility rules are documented on Apple/Google pages | EU alternative billing programmes are out of scope here |
| Redeem paths differ by code type | This log is not a full history of every 2024–2026 policy diff |
| Deep-link redeem URL is documented for Play | Fraud/abuse handling is studio ops |
Draft prepared 20 September 2026. Local expansion-500 file; human editorial review pending. No CMS write.
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