Subscription-based businesses are booming, offering merchants a reliable, recurring revenue stream and customers the convenience of regular, automated purchases. In recent years, Shopify has become a go-to platform for businesses looking to tap into the power of subscriptions, thanks to its wide range of subscription apps.
Whether you're selling monthly subscription boxes, recurring services, or replenishable products, the right Shopify subscription app can help you effectively manage subscriptions, retain customers, and grow your business.
But with so many options available, how do you choose the best subscription app for your Shopify store? In this article, we'll explore the key features to look for in a subscription app, review the top apps available in 2024, and help you evaluate which one best fits your business needs.
Key features to look for in a Shopify Subcription App
The Shopify Subscriptions app is integrated with your Shopify store, allowing you to create and manage subscriptions without leaving the admin. Subscriptions as a buying option allow you to offer things on a recurrent basis.
Using the Shopify Subscriptions app gives you additional control over the frequency of your subscriptions and the discount kinds that you can apply to your subscription plans. Let's break down some key notes you should consider before choosing the best fit one.
Seamless integration with Shopify
The first thing to consider is how well the app integrates with your Shopify store. The app should sync effortlessly with your store's backend, allowing you to manage products, orders, and customers in one place. Look for apps that offer native integration with Shopify's checkout and support for Shopify Payments, so you can avoid potential issues with subscription payments and customer experience.
Flexible subscription options
Your subscription app should offer flexibility for both you and your customers. This includes the ability to create various subscription models such as weekly, monthly, or annual plans, along with options for customers to select their preferred frequency. Additionally, having tools to create discounts, trials, and flexible billing cycles can improve customer retention and satisfaction.
Customer experience and self-management
Providing a great customer experience is critical to the success of any subscription business. Look for an app that offers a user-friendly portal where customers can manage their own subscriptions—whether it’s to update payment information, skip a delivery, change a subscription plan, or cancel altogether. This self-service functionality reduces support requests and gives customers more control over their subscriptions.
Analytics and reporting tools
Understanding the performance of your subscription business is vital for growth. The app you choose should come with robust analytics and reporting features, giving you insights into metrics like customer lifetime value (CLV), churn rate, and revenue from subscriptions. Advanced reporting tools allow you to track trends and make data-driven decisions to optimize your subscription offerings.
Payment gateways and app security
Since subscriptions involve recurring payments, ensuring that your app is compatible with a wide range of payment gateways is essential. Look for apps that support popular payment methods and are PCI-compliant to ensure secure transactions. It's also crucial that the app can handle failed payments gracefully, offering retry mechanisms and notifications to avoid losing subscribers due to payment issues.
The Shopify Subscriptions app is integrated with your Shopify store, allowing you to create and manage subscriptions without leaving the admin. Subscriptions as a buying option allow you to offer things on a recurrent basis. Using the Shopify Subscriptions app gives you additional control over the frequency of your subscriptions and the discount kinds that you can apply to your subscription plans.
Top 18+ Subscriptions App for your Shopify business
Without further ado, let's go through 18+ best Shopify Subscription Applications one by one to find out the best fit for your project.
1. Loop Subscriptions
Loop Subcriptions is a fully customized subscription app with a Polaris theme which was developed based on comments from the DTC community. Start with more than 200 widget design style possibilities. Gamified experience using subscriptions Automate and customize your Shopify subscriptions with discounts, incentives, trials, and gifts.
Highlight features:
- Easily manage subscriptions with mobile-first and self-serve customer portal
- Build unique customer journeys and gamify the subscriber experience with flows
- Offer fixed and customizable bundles and box subscriptions for higher AOV
- Recover lost revenue from failed card payments with smart dunning management
- Retain subscribers with interactive and personalized cancellation flows
Price:
- Free plan available. Free trial available
- Pro: $99/month with 1.0% transaction fee
- Enterprise: $399/month with 0.75% transaction fee
Rates: 5.0/5.0 (314 reviews)
2. Subscription Plus
Subscription Plus offers unique insights into subscriber retention and enables seamless subscription models. Varied shipping profiles, accelerated checkouts with supported payment gateways, and insights into cancellation reasons contribute to a robust and efficient subscription management system for your store. The Shopify Collabs integration allows you to apply a discount or commission either to the initial order in a subscription series or to a predetermined number of orders.
Highlight features:
- Easily manage subscriptions with mobile-first and self-serve customer portal
- Build unique customer journeys and gamify the subscriber experience with flows
- Offer fixed and customizable bundles and box subscriptions for higher AOV
- Recover lost revenue from failed card payments with smart dunning management
- Retain subscribers with interactive and personalized cancellation flows
Price:
- Free to install: First $100 in subscription sales is free, 1% thereafter
- Discuss for further consultant
Rates: 4.8/5.0 (124 reviews)
3. Recurpay Subscription App
Recurpay is yet another fantastic choice for a subscription app. With just a few clicks, you can quickly and simply set up recurring payments and subscriptions with this Shopify subscription software (yes, I tested it out myself).
With a configurable and multilingual customer portal, this solution enables your clients to take control of their subscription management and cut down on support calls.
Price:
- Free subscription until $100 in revenue
- The basic plan: starts at $9/month
Rates: 4.9/5.0 (377 reviews)
4. Seal Subscriptions App
Never before has setting up a subscription been so simple! After downloading and installing the program, make your first subscription rule to begin earning lovely recurring income. With a fantastic support staff to assist you in any circumstance. The Seal Subscriptions app, designed in Europe, offers you complete control over your subscribers, items, promotions, churn rate, subscription boxes, and cancellations.
Price:
- Free plan: 150 subscribers or more at no cost each transaction
- SuperSale: Save 30% with no transaction fees for $4.95/month or $41.58/year
- Rising: $7.95/month or $66.78/year, saving 30% and having no transaction fees
- Star Legend: Save 30% with no transaction fees for $20 a month or $168 a year
Rates: 4.9/5.0 (1,718 views)
5. Subify Subscriptions App
With the help of Subify, an intuitive tool designed specifically for Shopify subscriptions, you can provide your clients with recurring sales of goods and services.
By offering customizable discount models and delivery frequency, it may convert inexperienced clients into devoted ones and encourage them to place further orders. Selecting the ideal subscription plan for your shop can help you generate steady recurring income. Provide a membership plan, a subscribe and save button, or creative subscription boxes for your subscribers.
Price:
- Free to install: when have your first Subscription Order.
- Essential: $9/ month with 2.5%+19¢ per transaction on subscription orders
- Basic: $39/ month with 1%+19¢ per transaction on subscription orders + 30-day money-back guarantee. New users are eligible for a 60% discount
- Subify: $79/ month with 1% +9¢ per transaction on subscription orders. New users are eligible for a 75% discount 7 days after the installation
Rates: 4.9/5.0 (444 reviews)
6. Appstle℠ Subscriptions App
In this context, Appstle℠ Subscriptions is a worthwhile option to take into account.
You may get a comprehensive performance tracker, customized notifications, and automated churn reduction with our Shopify subscription app. It provides a free plan and charges no monthly or transaction costs for the creation and management of up to 50 subscribers concurrently.
The best feature is that they assist retailers maintain stock levels for popular goods by including inventory predictions. With this app, you may effortlessly monitor performance through comprehensive information on clients and sales.
Price
- Free plan: Free forever until $500/month in revenue.
- Starter: $10/month or $96/year and save 20%
- Business: $30/month or $288/year and save 20%
- Business Premium: $100/month or $960/year and save 20%
Rates: 4.9/5.0 (3,382 reviews)
7. Appstle℠ Memberships
Appstle℠ Memberships is the best Memberships app on Shopify and Shopify Plus It is owned by AppstleTM Inc., the same company that runs Appstle Subscriptions. The only end-to-end Memberships app on Shopify, Appstle℠ Memberships, addresses all four aspects of providing membership plans to your clients.
Highlight features:
- Intuitive merchant UI to offer and manage membership plans within minutes
- Tiered & customized member perks (discounted pricing, shipping benefits, access)
- Smart member tagging, to associate the right perks with the right member plans
- Automated member billing at pre-chosen intervals that can be customized
- Comprehensive and customizable member portal. Robust APIs and webhooks
Price
- FREE: Free to install. No per member fee or hidden fees.
- STARTER: $19/month or $182.40/year and save 20%
- BUSINESS: $39/month or $374.40/year and save 20%
- ENTERPRISE: $79/month or $758.40/year and save 20%
Rates: 4.9/5.0 (380 reviews)
8. PayWhirl Subscription Payments
PayWhirl is a versatile powerhouse designed specifically for Shopify, not just another subscription app. PayWhirl provides unmatched versatility compared to basic and free competitors, allowing you to create subscription plans that are tailored to your company's requirements. Use simple drag-and-drop blocks to easily link with user accounts, carts, and product pages. Advanced APIs, webhooks, and workflow tools are accessible, but coding knowledge is not required.
Price
- Free to install: 0% fees on your first $5000 processed, 3% thereafter
- PRO: $9/month with 2% transaction fee
- TRACTION: $29/month with 1.5 % transaction fee
- SCALE: $149/month with 0.75% transaction fee
Rates: 4.8/5.0 (228 reviews)
9. Ongoing Subscriptions
Ongoing is a Subscription app made in the USA, that offers premium recurring billing services for Shopify Store owners. Create a "Subscribe & Save" option for items that have scheduled orders and automatic recurring charges with ease. Customers may subscribe to many goods at once with our popular Build-a-Box function, which also helps to raise the average order value. Constantly provides upsell incentives such minimum purchase amounts, product bundling, and frequency-based discounts.
Price
- Pro: $99/month with 2% + 19¢ transaction fee
- Enterprise: $499/month with 1% + 19¢ transaction fee
Rates: 5.0/5.0 (130 reviews)
10. Recharge Subscriptions
Recharge Subscriptions application helps users increase revenue from your subscription strategy and create lasting buying habits. It brings many benefits:
- Subscription management: tiered discounts, dynamic plans, and code-free customer portal;
- Analytics and insights: track company performance and maximize results;
- Experience with subscriptions: give free gifts or discounts on future orders, prevent cancellations with custom gift retention, and more.
Price:
- Standard: $99/month with 1.25% + 19¢ per transaction
- Pro: $499/month with 1% + 19¢ per transaction
Rates: 4.6/5.0 (1,792 reviews)
11. Subscriptions Recurring Orders
Monthly Payments With the help of Recurring Orders, you can easily provide any product through recurring subscriptions. You have the option to bill your clients automatically based on the billing frequency you select, and the setup procedure just takes a minute or so. Allowing consumers to manage their subscriptions themselves gives them more power and also saves you time. The user experience for customers using the app is equally seamless. Additionally, you may show your appreciation for a customer's loyalty by giving regular customers discounts.
Price:
- Free
- Growth: $9/ month or $75.60/year and save 30% $39/month
- Enterprise: $19/ month or $159.60/year and save 30%
Rates: 4.9/5.0 (285 reviews)
12. Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)
A Shopify software called Skio Subscriptions (YC S20) was created to assist companies in managing their subscription models. Created by a group of prominent industry figures from well-known companies (Klaviyo, Amazon, Shopify, etc.), Skio provides the greatest features and analytics available to provide a better user experience. With Passwordless Login, Skio reduces customer tickets, allows companies to quickly move from other platforms, and updates its features faster through a hosted subscription site.
Price:
- $599/month
- $5988/year, save 17% with 1% transaction fee.
Rates: 5.0/5.0 (207 reviews)
13. Smartrr Subscriptions
While there are several options for selling and handling subscriptions on Shopify, Smartrr stands out for its dependability and ease of use. The considerate onboarding process that allows utilizing a trial membership program on a trial product is something we truly appreciate. Thus, you may check the app's functionality on your shop (preview) in a few clicks without having to set up any subscription logic or items.
A sophisticated feature called build-a-box is another service provided by Smartrr in addition to the "standard" "subscribe and save" technique. Consumers who purchase a subscription bundle can choose which items they want to include.
Price:
- Launch: $99/month + 1% subscriber GMV
- Grow: $299/month + 1% subscriber GMV
- Excel Starting At: $499/month + 1% subscriber GMV
Rates: 4.8/5.0 (45 reviews)
14. Courses Plus
Use Courses Plus to provide coaching programs or online courses through your shop. Start a career in e-learning by offering your expertise. With the subscription option in your online store, you may generate more recurring money by creating and selling digital downloads and items. You can simply create online courses using text, quizzes, photos, and videos in the Courses Plus app. You can even schedule Zoom sessions with your students. Webinars and courses assist you in expanding your product line and monetizing your viewership.
Price
- Free: Demo
- Basic: $29.99/month or $300/year and save 17%
- Professional: $79.99/month or $800/year and save 17%
- Enterprise: $199.99/month or $2,000/year and save 17%
Rates: 4.8/5.0 (167 reviews)
15. Tevello Courses & Communities
The Tevello Courses app offers a straightforward interface that seamlessly integrates with Shopify, streamlining the process of creating and publishing courses.
Lessons and modules within the courses can be added, modified, or deleted at any moment. Your courses can have many levels of secrecy set up: public, restricted to logged-in users with accounts, or private to registered members. Additionally, you have the option to upload a certificate that will be awarded upon completion and modify the welcome email sent to students beginning a course.
Price:
- Development: Free
- Unlimited: $19.99/month
Rates: 5.0/5.0 (177 reviews)
16. LDT Online Courses
Connect with your audience by offering online courses effortlessly through our LMS. Amplify sales by selling your courses, coaching programs and knowledge. It's simple to use, works seamlessly with your Shopify theme. In LDT Courses app you can easily create online courses from videos, audio, images, files, PDFs, quizzes, text blocks.
Highlight features:
- Sell your own online courses with videos, audio, pdf, text, quizz, zoom, ...
- Manage members progress, provide tests and exams with quizzes, scores
- Subtitles, adaptive streaming, watermark video
- Customers can access your online courses within your store front
- Generate PDF certificates for your students
Price:
- Starter: $9.99/ month or $99.99/year and save 17%
- Business: $16.99/ month or $169.99/year and save 17%
Rates: 5.0/5.0 (93 reviews)
17. RecurrinGO! Subscriptions
A subscription management program called RecurrinGO! makes it simple to establish and maintain subscriptions. Increase your subscription income by automatically billing clients or supplying them with periodic bills. Establish pliable subscription guidelines.
Allowing clients to buy both one-time and abonnement items will increase AOV. The software offers strong security and a flawless buying experience because it is completely connected with Shopify Checkout. Excellent for pet product subscriptions, food, and health & wellness products.
Price:
- Free to install until $100 in subscription revenue every month
- Paid plan starts at just $9/month
Rates: 4.5/5.0 (217 reviews)
18. Rekaching Subscriptions
With subscription purchasing possibilities, Rekaching Subscriptions is a Shopify software that aims to boost sales and provide a consistent income flow. This program has a very clear and user-friendly preview, making it extremely straightforward to set up. It also offers live chat assistance around-the-clock and multilingual help. Customers may self-manage their contracts, and it offers customisable widgets and variable subscription options.
Price: Free with extra costs for enhanced functionality and customisation.
Ratings: 4.6/5.0 (78 reviews)
How to know which app is right for your Shopify store?
With a variety of Shopify subscription apps available, selecting the right one for your business can be challenging. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating which app best suits your store’s needs:
Business size and requirements
The size of your business and the complexity of your subscription offerings should heavily influence your decision. Larger stores with complex subscription models, such as offering multiple tiers or customizable plans, may require more advanced features and greater scalability. Smaller stores, on the other hand, might benefit from a simpler app that’s easy to set up and manage without the need for extensive customization.
Budget and pricing models
Each subscription app comes with its own pricing structure, ranging from free plans with basic features to premium solutions with advanced capabilities. It’s important to assess how the app’s pricing model fits into your budget, particularly if you’re just starting out. Consider whether the app charges a flat monthly fee or a percentage of your subscription sales, and evaluate the overall value it provides for your business growth. Some apps offer pricing tiers based on the number of subscribers or orders, so make sure to choose one that aligns with your projected growth.
Customization and scalability
Your chosen app should grow with your business. Look for an app that offers flexibility and customization options to accommodate future changes, such as new subscription plans, different billing cycles, or adding more products to your subscription lineup. If you anticipate scaling your subscription offerings, ensure the app can handle increased volume without sacrificing performance or functionality. It’s also helpful to choose an app that allows for branding customization so you can maintain a cohesive brand experience.
Support and updates
Reliable customer support is critical, especially when dealing with recurring payments and customer subscriptions. Before committing to an app, check the level of support provided—whether it’s live chat, email, or phone support. Additionally, make sure the app is regularly updated to stay compatible with Shopify’s evolving platform and to incorporate new features. A well-supported app will minimize downtime and ensure your subscription business runs smoothly.
Final thoughts
Choosing the right Shopify subscription app is essential to running a successful subscription-based business. The ideal app should seamlessly integrate with your Shopify store, offer flexible subscription models, and provide a great customer experience through self-management options. Additionally, robust analytics and secure payment gateways are crucial for tracking performance and ensuring smooth recurring payments.
As every business has unique needs, it's important to evaluate each app based on your store’s size, budget, and customization requirements. Many apps offer free trials, so take advantage of these to find the best fit for your specific goals. With the right app, you can enhance customer loyalty, increase revenue, and establish a thriving subscription business on Shopify.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why do I need Shopify Subscriptions Apps?
Subscription apps, however, do more than just let users get their favorite things on a regular basis; they also make it simple for retailers to track and manage their memberships. Everybody wins in this situation.
2. How can I add a Subscription App to Shopify?
Go to the Shopify app store, search the subscription app you want to install, and then click on the “add app” button to add the tool to your Shopify store.
3. How can I manage my Shopify App Subscriptions?
Follow these steps:
- Log into Shopify Admin: Access your admin dashboard.
- Navigate to Apps: Click on the Apps tab in the sidebar.
- Select the Subscription App: Open the subscription app you want to manage.
- Manage subscriptions: Use the app dashboard to view active subscriptions, modify details, or cancel subscriptions.
- Check analytics: Review metrics like churn rate and revenue to make informed decisions.
- Set up notifications: Configure automated alerts for subscription updates or payment issues.