---
title: "Bundles with POS, subscriptions and pre-orders: what works on Shopify"
description: "What works where: Shopify's rules for bundles and discounts in POS, with subscriptions and with pre-orders, and how SMART Bundles handles each one."
url: "https://smart-bundles.io/guides/bundles-with-pos-subscriptions-preorders"
updated: "2026-11-02"
product: "SMART Bundles App & Upsells"
section: "Guides"
---


# Bundles with POS, subscriptions and pre-orders: what works on Shopify

Shopify's own Bundles app doesn't work with purchase options such as subscriptions and pre-orders, and automatic discounts apply in POS only at POS Pro locations. In SMART Bundles App & Upsells, a bundle's discount runs in POS only when you untick **Exclude POS** (it's ticked for new bundles), Free gift never applies in POS, and a bundle's Subscribe and save option uses your subscription app's selling plans and discounts the first subscription order only.

## The short version

|  | Shopify Bundles app | Shopify discounts | SMART Bundles |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **POS** | Bundles can be sold on the Shopify POS channel | Automatic discounts: POS Pro locations only. Discounts from Discount Function apps can apply | Bundles: off for new bundles (**Exclude POS**). Free gift: never. Other types: Shopify's POS rules |
| **Subscriptions** | Not compatible with purchase options or the Shopify Subscriptions app | Each discount applies to one-time, subscription or both; Buy X get Y's "get" item is one-time only | Bundle **Subscriptions** extra, first order only. Other types: **Purchase types** card |
| **Pre-orders** | Not compatible | Pre-orders don't support Buy X get Y, and can't be sold in POS | Selling plan pre-orders count as subscription purchases in Volume, Order goal, Buy X get Y and Shipping |

Sources: [Shopify Bundles](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/products/bundles/shopify-bundles), [Eligibility and considerations](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/products/bundles/eligibility-and-considerations), [Discounts in Shopify POS](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/sell-in-person/shopify-pos/discount-management), [Subscription discounts](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/products/purchase-options/subscriptions/manage-subscriptions/subscription-discounts), [Pre-orders and TBYB](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/purchase-options/deferred). The sections below give the details.

## POS

### Shopify's rules

- Automatic discounts apply to POS orders only at locations with a POS Pro subscription ([Discounts in Shopify POS](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/sell-in-person/shopify-pos/discount-management)). In Shopify's own discount editor that's the **Apply on POS Pro locations** option, or a Retail market ([Buy X get Y](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/discount-types/buy-x-get-y)).
- Discounts from an app built with Discount Functions can apply in Shopify POS, so the discounts you run online can also run at the register ([Discounts in Shopify POS](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/sell-in-person/shopify-pos/discount-management)). Shopify's developer docs add that app discounts apply automatically at POS for Pro locations ([DiscountAutomaticAppInput](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/input-objects/DiscountAutomaticAppInput)).
- Staff can remove an automatic discount for one sale from the POS cart: **More actions** > **Automatic discounts** ([Applying discounts](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/sell-in-person/shopify-pos/discount-management/applying-discounts)).
- POS follows the same combination rules as online orders, and discounts must be set as combinable in your admin ([Combining discounts in POS](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/sell-in-person/shopify-pos/discount-management/combining-discounts)).
- Products made with the Shopify Bundles app can be sold on the Online Store, Shop and Shopify POS channels ([Shopify Bundles](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/products/bundles/shopify-bundles)).

### SMART Bundles in POS

- **Bundles:** the Settings tab > **Eligibility** has **Exclude POS** ("No discount on sales in your retail store (Shopify POS)"). It's ticked for new bundles. An older bundle may show it unticked, so check each bundle you sell in store.
- With **Exclude POS** unticked, the bundle's discount can apply to a POS cart that holds the qualifying items, under Shopify's POS Pro rule for automatic discounts. The widget itself (offer cards, gifts, add-ons) is an online store feature.
- **Free gift:** never applies in POS. A gift rung up at the register is charged.
- **Volume discount, Order goal, Buy X get Y, Shipping discount, Advanced discount:** these are Shopify Functions too. The app has no POS setting for them, so Shopify's POS rules decide where they apply.

More: [POS support](https://smart-bundles.io/help/troubleshooting/pos-support).

## Subscriptions

### Shopify's rules

- Shopify Bundles aren't compatible with purchase options (subscriptions, pre-orders, try before you buy) or with the Shopify Subscriptions app ([Eligibility and considerations](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/products/bundles/eligibility-and-considerations)).
- When you sell subscriptions, a Buy X get Y, amount off or free shipping discount can apply to subscription purchases, one-time purchases or both. In Buy X get Y, the "get" item must be a one-time purchase. Free shipping can be limited to the first payment or a number of payments ([Subscription discounts](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/products/purchase-options/subscriptions/manage-subscriptions/subscription-discounts)).
- App discounts carry a recurring cycle limit: the number of billing cycles the discount can apply to ([DiscountAutomaticAppInput](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/input-objects/DiscountAutomaticAppInput)).
- Subscriptions are supported in Shopify POS, and subscriptions can't be used with B2B ([Pre-orders and TBYB](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/purchase-options/deferred)).

### SMART Bundles with subscriptions

- **Bundles:** Extras tab > **Subscriptions** adds a "Subscribe and save" / "One-time purchase" choice above or below the offers. It uses the product's own selling plans from whatever subscription app your shop uses. Only recurring plans count; a product without one shows no Subscribe option.
- Once the extra is on, each offer has **Allow subscription**. It works on **Quantity breaks**, **Buy X, get Y** and **Mix and match** offers, but not on **Complete the bundle**, **Alternative product** or a Mix and match offer whose shoppers pick the products. Upsell add-ons are always one-time.
- **The bundle discount covers the first subscription order only.** The app saves bundles with a recurring cycle limit of 1, and the bundle editor has no setting to change it.
- **Volume, Order goal, Buy X get Y, Shipping and Advanced discounts** have a **Purchase types** card: **Applies on one time purchases**, **Applies on subscription purchases** (off by default) and **Recurring cycle limit** (1 by default; 0 means every billing cycle).
- With **Applies on subscription purchases** off, Volume, Order goal, Buy X get Y and Shipping discounts don't apply to a cart that holds any item with a selling plan. Advanced discount can also target lines with the **Has selling plan** product group.

Setup: [Subscriptions in a bundle](https://smart-bundles.io/help/bundles/subscriptions-in-a-bundle).

## Pre-orders

### Shopify's rules

- You sell pre-orders through a pre-order app ([Pre-orders](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/products/purchase-options/pre-orders)). Developers build them as selling plans with pricing, delivery, inventory and billing policies ([Pre-orders and TBYB](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/purchase-options/deferred)).
- Pre-orders can't be used through Shopify POS or on draft orders, don't support Buy X get Y discounts, and can't be used with B2B ([Pre-orders and TBYB](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/purchase-options/deferred)).
- Shopify Bundles aren't compatible with pre-orders ([Eligibility and considerations](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/products/bundles/eligibility-and-considerations)).

### SMART Bundles with pre-orders

- **Volume, Order goal, Buy X get Y and Shipping** check whether a cart line has a selling plan. A pre-order sold with a selling plan therefore counts as a subscription purchase, and the app can't tell the two apart. Tick **Applies on subscription purchases** if those discounts should apply to carts with pre-order items.
- **The bundle widget's Subscribe option** lists only recurring plans. Pre-order and try before you buy plans never show there.
- **Quantity breaks, Buy X, get Y and Mix and match** (without the picker) keep the purchase option the shopper chose in your theme's product form, such as a pre-order option, unless the widget shows its own Subscribe and save choice on that product. **Complete the bundle**, **Alternative product** and Mix and match with shoppers picking the products always add one-time items.
- Pre-order apps differ, so test a real cart with a pre-order item before you launch a bundle on that product.

## Checklist before you launch

1. Selling in store? Decide per bundle whether **Exclude POS** stays ticked, and test at a POS Pro location.
2. Running Free gift? Tell store staff the gift isn't free at the register.
3. Selling subscriptions in a bundle? Turn on the **Subscriptions** extra and **Allow subscription** on the offers, and tell shoppers the bundle saving applies to the first order.
4. Using Volume, Order goal, Buy X get Y or Shipping with subscriptions or selling plan pre-orders? Set **Purchase types** on each one.
5. Test a real cart in the online store for each case: a one-time cart, a subscription cart and a cart with a pre-order item.

**Bundles that know where they run** Install SMART Bundles App & Upsells: per-bundle POS control, Subscribe and save in the widget, and purchase types on every cart discount. Free, with every feature included. [Install SMART Bundles App & Upsells on the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/smart-automatic-discounts).

## Frequently asked questions

### Does the bundle discount apply to subscription renewals?

No. A bundle's discount covers the first subscription order only. For a discount on later billing cycles, use a Volume or Order goal discount with **Applies on subscription purchases** ticked and a **Recurring cycle limit** above 1, or 0 for every cycle.

### Can a bundle run only in POS and not online?

No. There is no POS-only setting. A bundle either runs in POS as well (**Exclude POS** unticked) or skips POS sales (ticked).

### Why doesn't my volume discount apply when a pre-order item is in the cart?

If your pre-order app sells with selling plans, the item counts as a subscription purchase. With **Applies on subscription purchases** off, the discount skips that cart. Tick it in the **Purchase types** card.