---
title: "50 free gifts. First come, first served — your loyalty program just learned scarcity."
slug: "total-redemption-limit-redeeming-programs"
url: "https://joy.so/updates/total-redemption-limit-redeeming-programs/"
kind: "update"
author: "Thomas Nguyen"
author_url: "https://joy.so/author/thomas/"
published_at: "2026-03-20T09:40:57.000+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-08T08:58:13.000+00:00"
description: "Set a cap on how many customers can redeem a reward. When the limit is hit, it shows as sold out — automatically. First come, first served."
category: "Product Updates"
tags: ["Product Updates"]
reading_time: 2
feature_image: "https://cdn-web.joy.so/cdn/image/2026/03/pexel-redemption-263a69.jpg"
---

# 50 free gifts. First come, first served — your loyalty program just learned scarcity.

## Why this matters

Run limited rewards without giving away more than you have. A [total redemption limit](https://help.joy.so/reward-programs/redeeming-programs/redemption-limits) caps how many times a redeeming program can be redeemed across all customers, and the reward shows as Sold out once the cap is reached.

### Cap redemptions on any program

Discount, Free Gift, and Free Shipping programs each have a Total Redemption Limit setting. Enter a number and Joy counts every completed redemption in real time.

### Show Sold out at the cap

When the limit is reached, the reward shows as **Sold out** in the loyalty widget. You do not need to disable the program by hand.

### Track the count and reopen

The admin shows a live **Current total of redemptions** counter. After you restock, select **Reset** and the program opens again immediately.

> **Try this**
> For a free gift with 50 units in stock, set **Program total limitation** to 50. The reward switches to Sold out once those 50 are redeemed.

---

## How to access and use

### Step 1: Open a redeeming program

Go to **Reward programs → Redeeming programs** and open any program.

### Step 2: Turn on the limit

In the **Redemption limit** card, select **Redemption limit** instead of **No limitation**.

### Step 3: Enter the total

Type the maximum number of redemptions in **Program total limitation**.

### Step 4: Add a per-customer cap

Optionally check **Each customer's limit** to cap each customer on top of the total.

### Step 5: Save the program

Click **Save**. Joy starts counting from that moment.

## Setup guides

[Set a total redemption limit](https://help.joy.so/reward-programs/redeeming-programs/redemption-limits)

## Good to know

Only completed redemptions count; pending or failed redeems do not use a slot. Total redemption limits are available on all Joy plans.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does the redemption count reset on a schedule?

No. The count resets only when you click **Reset** next to the counter, and a reset is permanent.

### Can I change the limit after the program goes live?

Yes. Raise or lower it at any time. The change takes effect immediately and does not affect redemptions already made.

### What happens to a redemption in progress when the cap is hit?

It still goes through. A redemption already in progress when the limit is reached is processed.