How to Get a Google Ads Promo Code in 2026

Whenever we discuss PPC services, the question of how to reduce advertising costs inevitably comes up. One of the most common questions in the Google Ads community is how to get a promo code for ads. Google updated its rules in 2026, so here’s how it works now.

New advertiser offers directly from Google

Google selectively offers promotions to new advertisers. The conditions (spend requirement and credit amount) depend on the specific offer, and the credit is only applied once all requirements are met. Check the terms and conditions when you redeem an offer.

Google’s example:

Introductory offer: "Spend $500 USD, get $500 USD".

To get the $500 credit, redeem the introductory offer, which is automatically applied to your account after you sign up. Then spend at least $500 within the stated period after redeeming the offer. Once you’ve spent $500, the $500 credit will appear in your account within 35 days, provided all eligibility requirements are met. If the credit hasn’t appeared after 35 days, contact Google Ads support.

Who is eligible

• Your Google Ads account is less than 14 days old when you redeem the offer.
• You have a valid payment method added to your account.
• You haven’t advertised the same business on Google Ads before from a different account.

Key rules for using promo codes

• When spend starts counting. Only spend after you redeem the offer counts. Earlier spend (even the same $500) won’t help you meet the offer requirements.
• What the credit covers. The credit only covers future advertising costs. It can’t pay for costs accrued before it was applied, or for the spend requirement itself.
• How long you can use it. You normally have 60 days to spend the credit once it’s added. If you don’t use it in time or close your account early, the remaining balance is lost and can’t be refunded.
• Expired offers. They can’t be restored, replaced or reactivated, and Google doesn’t apply credits retroactively.
• Existing advertisers. Google occasionally offers credit to existing accounts too – for example, for trying new campaign types. The terms and timing of these offers are set individually.

Google:

If you start a billing transfer, like a change in account ownership, any active promotional credits won’t be transferred or refunded. After the billing transfer is completed, your promotional credits will expire and won’t be available for future use. You can still view promotions associated with any past billing setup by selecting it on the Billing transfers page, then going to the Promotions page.

Important. Because the rules can differ significantly between offers, always read the terms of each specific offer carefully.

Credit through a Google Partner agency: what changed in 2026

Google has changed how Partner promotional offers work. Previously, credit was automatically applied to all of a Partner’s new clients. Now the Partner chooses one of 7 credit values and manually applies it to a specific new client. Only agencies with Partner or Premier Partner status can take part, and they no longer need to opt in to get access to offers.

Client account requirements

• The account has no other promotions applied.
• The account is billed to a country where Google Partners promotional offers are available.
• The advertiser is new to Google Ads: no more than 20 days have passed since the account was created.

Google checks whether the client is a new customer not when the offer is applied but after the client reaches the required spend. If it turns out the advertiser has had Google Ads accounts before, the credit won’t be applied.

Credit amounts

There are 7 options. Google’s official amounts in US dollars:

In other countries, the amounts are set in the local currency and can differ from the exact USD equivalent, so check the official table for your country. For example, in Germany the credit ranges from EUR 460 to EUR 3,600, in Portugal from EUR 300 to EUR 2,000, and in Poland from PLN 600 to PLN 9,000.

Timing

• Spend period: 60 days from when the offer is applied (previously 30).
• Credit: appears in the account within 35 days after the client reaches the required spend.

How a Partner applies the credit

Offers can be applied to accounts created no more than 20 days ago. All eligible accounts are listed in the manager account (MCC): Admin → Partners Program → "Promotional offers" card → View details.

1. Choose the account: in the "Account" column, check that you’re applying the credit to the right account.
2. Choose the credit: in the "Promotion" column, open the Select drop-down and choose the credit value.
3. Confirm: review the terms and conditions in the dialog box and select Redeem.

Once the offer is applied, the status in the "Promotion" column changes. If you select a promotion for one account but don’t apply it, and then start selecting for another account, the unapplied selection is reset automatically.

The Partner’s credit cap

How much credit an agency can give to clients is limited by a monthly cap. It’s calculated on the first day of each month as 15% of the agency’s spend over the last 90 days.

1. This month’s credits – the credit amount for the current month.
2. Available credits – the maximum credit amount, shown in the Partner’s local currency.
3. Credits used – credits already applied to client accounts.
4. Remaining credits – available credits minus credits used.

If the remaining credits aren’t enough for any of the offers, all promotional options become unavailable. If there are policy violations, Google temporarily suspends the Partner’s remaining credits (they drop to 0), but credits already applied to clients aren’t affected.

Learn more: About Google Partners promotional offers.

How promo credit works with different payment settings

The way you pay for ads directly affects how promotional credit is applied.

Automatic payments (postpay)

• Activation: redeem the offer before it expires and start advertising. Once you meet the requirements, the credit will appear under "Active promotions" on the Billing Summary page within about 35 days.
• Usage: the credit only covers future costs. Any costs before the credit is applied, or after it’s used up, are charged to your payment method.
• When the credit runs out: your ads keep running and accruing costs. To avoid unwanted spend, you can pause your campaigns at any time.

Manual payments (prepay)

To make sure you get the credit, don’t pay just the minimum. For example, if the offer requires $500 in spend, top up a little more than that. Otherwise, a few cents may be left on the balance – less than your cost per click – so ads stop running and the requirement is never fully met. If VAT is deducted from Google Ads payments in your country, factor it into your payment.

As soon as you reach the required spend, Google checks the account, and within 35 days the credit appears under "Active promotions".

Monthly invoicing

Set up invoicing before you redeem the offer: changing your billing setup afterwards will invalidate the promotional offer.

Google Ads promotional offers policy.

If you have questions about applying a promo code, contact Google Ads support.