CartRulesEverything you need to run CartRules yourself.
Every screen, every setting, every message a customer sees — explained so you can set up, adjust, and troubleshoot CartRules without opening a support ticket. Our own definition of done: a merchant creates their first working rule in under 3 minutes, no documentation needed. This page is here for the other 3%.
Quick start
The fastest path from install to your first live rule.
- Install CartRules from the Shopify App Store and open it from your admin's Apps menu.
- Click New rule — the 3-step wizard opens (rule type → products → message).
- Pick a rule type, choose the products it applies to, and write one line explaining it to customers.
- Click Save & activate. It's enforced at checkout immediately — no theme edits, no code.
That's the whole loop. Sections 2–5 below walk through each part in detail with the exact screens you'll see.
The two rule types
CartRules version 1 has exactly two rule types. Knowing which one to reach for is most of the job.
A"No discount codes"
Excludes the products, collection, or tag you choose from every discount code at checkout. Use it for new releases, items already discounted, or licensed goods with fixed prices — anything that shouldn't stack a second markdown on top.
- Blocks native Shopify discount codes on matching products
- Shows your custom message instead of applying the code
- Doesn't touch discounts on the rest of the cart
B"Max quantity per order"
Caps how many units of a product a customer can buy in one order. Use it for bulky or heavy items where a large quantity pushes shipping into a losing margin, or to protect a limited launch from being emptied by resellers.
- Auto-adjusts the cart quantity down to the limit
- Shows your message explaining why
- Holds at cart, checkout, and after a quantity edit
Creating a rule, step by step
Every rule — either type — is created with the same 3-step wizard. Here's exactly what each step asks for.
1What kind of rule?
Choose Block discount codes or Limit quantity per order. This choice determines what step 2 and 3 ask for next — you can't mix both behaviors in a single rule, so a store needing both creates two rules.
2Which products?
Select by tag, collection, or individual products. Tag is the most hands-off option: tag a product no-promo once, and it's covered by the rule automatically — including products you add to that tag after the rule was created.
3Message shown to the customer
Free text, in your own language. This is what turns a limit from "looks like a bug" into "looks professional." Keep it short and specific — mention the reason if it helps (oversized parcel, best price already applied, limited launch).
Reading your rules dashboard
One screen to see and control everything you've set up.
Rule · Applies to · Status
Every row shows the rule type, exactly which products/collection/tag it targets, and whether it's Active or Paused. Click a row to edit any of the 3 steps without recreating the rule.
- Pausing stops enforcement immediately but keeps the rule's settings — reactivate any time.
- Editing lets you change targeting or the message without losing rule history.
- Free plan shows a slot counter (e.g. "2 of 3 rules used") so you know when you'll need to upgrade.
What customers actually see
Both rule types are designed to correct politely, not block with a mystery error.
Quantity limit in the cart
If a customer adds more than the allowed quantity, CartRules adjusts it down automatically and shows your message right on the cart line — they understand why before they ever reach checkout.
Blocked discount code at checkout
If a customer applies a code that touches an excluded product, checkout rejects it and shows your message in place of a generic "code invalid" error — clear, and on-brand.
Common recipes
Three real setups, straight from the problems CartRules was built to solve. Copy the pattern for your own catalog.
Stop codes on new releases
Tag every new release no-promo the moment it's published, and it's excluded from all discount codes from day one — no manual per-launch setup.
Target: Tag = no-promo
Message: "Already at launch price — codes don't apply."
Cap XXL plushies at 2
Bulky items push a parcel into volumetric pricing past a certain quantity. Cap the whole collection so no single order silently loses shipping margin.
Target: Collection = Plush XXL
Message: "Max 2 per order (oversized parcel)."
Limit a launch to 1 per order
Limited editions get emptied by resellers in a single checkout without a cap. One rule on the product keeps stock available for real customers.
Target: Product = Album Special Ed.
Message: "Limited edition — 1 per order."
Troubleshooting
Before contacting support, check these — they resolve the vast majority of "it's not working" reports.
The rule doesn't seem to trigger
Open the rule on the dashboard and confirm its status is Active, not Paused. A paused rule keeps its settings but enforces nothing.
A tag-based rule is missing some products
Double-check the exact tag spelling on the product (tags are case-sensitive) and that the product is published to the same sales channel where the order is placed.
The customer message isn't showing
An empty message field falls back to a default system message. Re-open the rule's step 3 and confirm your custom text was saved before activating.
A discount code still applies to an excluded product
Confirm the product is actually inside the rule's target (product, collection, or tag) and that the rule is Active. Codes added to the cart before the rule was activated may need to be re-applied.
I hit "3 active rules" on the Free plan
That's the Free plan limit. Pause a rule you're not using, or upgrade to Growth for unlimited rules — see plans below.
Plans & limits recap
Full pricing detail lives on the overview page — here's what actually changes as you upgrade.
- Free — 3 active rules, both rule types, default messages, product/collection targeting.
- Growth ($4.99/mo) — unlimited rules, custom messages in any language, tag targeting, email support.
- Pro ($9.99/mo) — everything in Growth, plus product-page notices and priority support.
- Billing lives under Plans & billing in the app sidebar — upgrade, downgrade, or cancel any time.
Still stuck?
If the sections above didn't answer it, reach out directly.
Talk to support
Email team@mpctrades.com with your store URL and a short description — most replies land within 24 hours. CartRules is owned end-to-end by one developer, so it goes straight to them, not a ticket queue.
See all the ways to reach us on the support page.