How credit vouchers work
Updated September 14, 2026
A credit voucher is a code that carries a balance the customer spends down over time. Vouchers are stored as standard WooCommerce coupons, which means they inherit WooCommerce’s own restriction rules, reporting and data handling rather than living in a parallel system.
Partial redemption
Unlike an ordinary coupon, a voucher is not consumed the first time it is used. Each voucher tracks an initial amount and a remaining amount: spend part of it on one order and the rest stays available for later. The Remaining column on the Vouchers screen, and the figure on the customer’s My Vouchers tab, both show what is left.
The balance is drawn down when the order reaches a paid status, and restored if that order is later cancelled or refunded.
Assigned and unassigned vouchers
A voucher issued to a particular customer is restricted to that customer’s email address, so only they can redeem it. That is what happens when a voucher is earned, refunded, bought for oneself, or created from the customer overview screen.
A voucher created without a customer stays unassigned and can be given to anybody. Gift vouchers work this way, which is how a recipient with no account can still use one.
How a customer redeems one
- A logged-in customer picks the voucher from the redemption tool at the cart or checkout, where their vouchers are listed with their remaining balances.
- They can claim a code they have been given by typing it into the Enter Code tab, if you have enabled voucher code entry.
- Because a voucher is a real coupon, an unassigned code can also be entered in WooCommerce’s own coupon field – the redemption tool is a convenience layer on top of that, not a replacement for it.
Checking a balance without logging in
The [sscp_balance_check] shortcode puts a public lookup form on any page. Anyone can enter a voucher code and see its remaining balance, status and expiry date without an account, which is exactly what a gift recipient needs.