Use this article to match your specific marketing goal to the right promo code format on DoorDash's Commerce Platform (DCP). For the complete step-by-step creation flow, see How to Create a Marketing Campaign on DoorDash. For the goal-based playbooks referenced below, see: Winback Promo, Mobile App First-Order Promo, Broad Promotion Announcement, and Marketplace-to-1P Migration.
Two Ways Incentives Work on DoorDash's Commerce Platform (DCP)
On DoorDash's Commerce Platform (DCP), customer incentives are delivered through two distinct tools: promo codes you create yourself, and AI Occasion Campaigns that DoorDash runs automatically on your behalf.
Promo Codes (Merchant-Created)
Promo codes are discount codes you set up yourself from the Marketing tab in your Merchant Portal. Customers enter the promo code at checkout to receive the discount. For the full step-by-step setup flow, see How to Create a Marketing Campaign on DoorDash.
AI Occasion Campaigns (DoorDash-Automated)
AI Occasion Campaigns are seasonal or occasion-based promotions that DoorDash sends automatically on your behalf twice a month, matched to your brand — for example, a pizza restaurant might receive a National Meatball Day promotion. AI Occasion Campaigns require no setup from you. You can view, edit, or fully disable AI Occasion Campaigns from your Merchant Portal.
Promo Codes vs. AI Occasion Campaigns: Which Tool Should I Use?
Choose between promo codes and AI Occasion Campaigns based on whether you want to drive a specific action yourself or let DoorDash handle seasonal promotions automatically.
Use promo codes when you want to drive a specific action — a first order, a win-back after a lapse, a slow-day push, or a new menu item launch.
Use AI Occasion Campaigns as a hands-off complement. AI Occasion Campaigns run in the background automatically, regardless of what promo codes you set up yourself.
The Four Promo Code Formats
Every promo code you create on DCP uses one of four discount formats. The format you choose determines what gets discounted and how the discount is applied.
Percent Off — A percentage discount applied to the entire order (for example, 10% off). Percent Off is a general-purpose format that works for most goal-based use cases.
Dollar Off — A flat dollar amount discount applied to the entire order (for example, $5 off). Dollar Off is a general-purpose format that works for most goal-based use cases.
Free Delivery — The delivery fee drops to $0 for qualifying orders. (The standard customer delivery fee is $3.99.) You set a minimum order subtotal required to qualify. Use the Free Delivery format when your goal is specifically to increase delivery volume — for example, customers who currently order for pickup or through DoorDash Marketplace but are not converting to delivery on your own site or app — or when you want to push delivery orders around a specific event or holiday.
Item Promotion — A discount applied to one or more specific menu items in the cart. The discount can be free, a percentage off, or a custom price. You can apply the Item Promotion to a single item or an entire item category (for example, one specific burger, or every burger on the menu). A minimum subtotal is optional. Use the Item Promotion format when you want to promote a specific item — a new menu launch, a seasonal special (for example, "20% off all burgers, June through July"), or to increase average order size (for example, "50% off dessert with a $30+ order").
Note: Percent Off and Dollar Off are general-purpose formats that discount the whole order and suit most marketing goals. Free Delivery and Item Promotion are targeted formats — use them only when the issue is specifically about delivery volume or a particular item or category, not the order as a whole.
Which Promo Code Type Fits My Goal?
There is no single best promo code format — the right choice depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Use the goal descriptions below to identify the best promo code type for your situation.
"My customers used to order and stopped." Use a Winback Promo (Dollar Off). See the Winback Promo article for mechanics and Custom CRM pairing.
"I have a mobile app and not enough people are using it." Use a Mobile App First-Order Promo (Dollar Off, app-restricted). See the Mobile App First-Order Promo article for mechanics and Custom CRM pairing.
"I have a slow day or I am coming out of a slow season." Use a Broad Promotion Announcement (Dollar Off) — use sparingly. See the Broad Promotion Announcement article for mechanics and Custom CRM pairing.
"Customers order from me on DoorDash Marketplace but not through my own site or app." Use a Marketplace-to-1P Migration offer (Dollar Off). "1P" refers to your own Storefront website or app, as opposed to third-party DoorDash Marketplace orders. See the Marketplace-to-1P Migration article for mechanics and Custom CRM pairing.
"My delivery volume is low, or I want to push delivery orders around an event or holiday." Use a Free Delivery Promo. Set your discount and minimum subtotal in the Marketing tab in your Merchant Portal.
"I want to launch a new item, run a seasonal special, or get customers to add more to their cart." Use an Item Promotion. Set your discount and optional minimum subtotal in the Marketing tab in your Merchant Portal.
Note: The first four goals above each have a dedicated playbook article covering mechanics and Custom CRM pairing. Free Delivery and Item Promotion are newer, more targeted formats — their mechanics are set directly in the Marketing tab in the Merchant Portal and are covered in the section above.
Questions? If you need help with this process or have questions, reach out to DoorDash Support at oosupport@doordash.com.