SimplyCodes Research · 2026
87.2 million codes tested reveal structural friction — failure rates, hidden restrictions, spend gates, and a shift away from straightforward discounts.
Failure breakdown is illustrative based on described drivers; exact splits not in source data.
| Restriction type | Share of active codes | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Members only | 31.4% | High — excludes most shoppers |
| New customers only | 5.9% | Medium — one-time use only |
| App purchase required | 1.1% | Medium — requires install |
| Other / Unspecified ⓘ | 61.4% | Unknown — vague eligibility |
About 2.1% of all promo codes carry a minimum spend requirement. While that sounds small, the thresholds are substantial — and they change shopper behavior.
| Scenario | Cart value | Discount | Savings | Total outlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower discount, low cart | $90 | 15% | $13.50 | $76.50 |
| Higher discount, gated cart | $150 | 20% | $30.00 | $120.00 |
| The 20% deal looks better — but costs $43.50 more out-of-pocket. Percentage alone doesn't tell the full story. | ||||
Behavioral note: Minimum thresholds nudge shoppers to spend more to unlock a discount — often spending more total than they would have without the code. The discount percentage alone does not determine net financial benefit.
Retailers are shifting away from straightforward %-off codes. Between Jan 2024 → Jan 2026, free shipping and free gift offers have surged — but they're harder for shoppers to evaluate.
| Promo type | Jan 2024 | Jan 2026 | Change | Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Off discount codes | Majority | ↓ Declining | Retreating | High |
| Free shipping codes | 5.2% | 8.3% | +59% | Variable |
| Free gift promotions | 1.6% | 3.5% | +119% | Variable |
Across 87.2M codes, the national failure rate is 24.8% — adding friction, eroding confidence, and driving checkout abandonment.
31.4% of active codes are members-only. 61.4% of restricted codes have vague "Other" eligibility — shoppers often can't tell why they don't qualify.
Median min. spend is $100; 90th percentile is $300. Higher discounts often cost shoppers more total, not less.
Free shipping codes up +59% since 2024. Free gifts up +119%. Both are harder to evaluate than a clean percentage discount.
Many codes are active in the system but narrowly applicable. The headline discount is real — the eligibility window is very small.
As non-percentage offers grow, financial impact becomes less consistent — value depends on shipping costs, gift desirability, and hidden thresholds.
Source: SimplyCodes internal data, 8.3M active codes + 87.2M tested codes, 2024–2026. Failure-cause breakdown is illustrative.