What is the Shopify Subscriptions App? (And Should You Use It?)

If you’re looking for a way to boost recurring revenue for your Shopify store, offering your customers subscriptions could be a great idea. Demand for ecommerce subscriptions has increased drastically in recent years, as consumers look for ways to streamline the shopping experience. 

After all, who doesn’t love the idea of simply clicking a button, and getting the products you love most delivered to your door automatically every week, fortnight, or month? According to the IMARC group, demand for subscriptions in the ecommerce space will only continue to grow. 

The market, worth $193.6 billion in 2023, is showing a current growth rate of 43.56%, meaning it could be worth about $5,014.4 billion by 2032. Now that Shopify has launched its own native “Shopify Subscriptions App”, there’s nothing stopping you from getting a piece of the action.

What is the Shopify Subscriptions App?

The Shopify Subscriptions app is the native app, built by Shopify, which allows ecommerce vendors to sell subscriptions for products or services. It was introduced by the Shopify ecommerce team in their “Winter 2024 Editions” newsletter. 

Before Shopify released this app, the only way use subscriptions to boost your online revenue, was to  use a third-party solution available on the Shopify app store. 

While you might still prefer a third-party option (I’ll share some of the best below), the native Shopify Subscriptions app does have some benefits. It’s free to use, available to anyone (with a Shopify subscription, an approved payment processor, and an Online Store 2.0 setup), and it’s straightforward.

The Features of the Shopify Subscriptions App

Compared to some other apps you can use to sell subscriptions on Shopify, Shopify’s solution is pretty basic. It allows you to create custom subscription plans within your Shopify dashboard, with automatic billing and renewals for every week, month, or year. 

With the app, you’ll also be able to:

• Give customers discounts on subscription purchases.
• Allow users to modify, pause, resume, or skip plans.
• Display a “subscription” widget on your product pages.
• Show subscription details in the “cart” and “thank you” pages.
• Send emails to customers about subscription orders.
• Access subscription reports. 

Here’s an example of what a subscription offer might look like on Shopify, if you work with a Shopify Expert to set up the experience:

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https://resources.storetasker.com/shopify-examples/ouaf-box-sub

How to Use the Shopify Subscriptions App

To use Shopify’s native “Subscriptions” app, the first thing you’ll need to do is install it from the Shopify app store, here. Once the app is installed, you’ll be able to manage all of your plans, customers, and contracts within your Shopify admin dashboard. 

Here’s how you can get started with the app:

Creating Subscription Plans

You can create subscription plans for your Shopify customers either from within the app (by clicking on it in your Shopify dashboard), or directly from your product pages. From the Shopify admin:

• Click on Subscriptions then Plans.
• Choose Create new plan, and give your plan a title.
• Select the products you want to include in your plan.
• Decide if you want to offer a discount to subscribers.
• Choose the delivery frequency (weekly, monthly, yearly, or optional).
• Click Save. 

You can also change various settings within the Shopify Subscriptions app. For instance, when you add a subscription, a new “Purchase option cancellation policy” will be added to your store. You can leave this policy as the default template, or edit your store policies to change it. 

There’s also the option to use the Settings section in the Subscriptions app to adjust the number of times you’ll attempt to bill your customer if a payment fails. Plus, you can determine whether the subscription will be cancelled, paused, or skipped when a payment fails.

Displaying Subscriptions on a Shopify Store

After you’ve designed a subscription plan with Shopify, you’ll be able to add a subscription widget to your product page. The details of your subscription plan will display on product, cart, and thank you pages. Here’s an example of what a subscription plan looks like on the checkout page:

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https://resources.storetasker.com/shopify-examples/death-wish-coffee-subscription

To adjust your widget, log into your Shopify admin, and click on Online Store, then Themes. Click the Customize option next to the theme you’re using, then:

• Select an existing product page template, or create a new template to add the widget to.
• Click Add block under Product information and select Subscription widget.
• Customize the widget to match your store’s theme.
• Click Save. 

Allowing Customers to Manage Subscriptions

If you have the option for “new customer accounts” activated on your Shopify store, customers will be able to log into their own accounts from your site, and manage subscriptions themselves. If customers have “classic” accounts, you’ll need to give them access to a subscription management URL. Both types of customers will be able to manage aspects of their subscription.

For instance, they can change their payment method, choose a different frequency for their subscription, or skip, cancel, and pause subscriptions (Depending on your policies). 

To make sure everyone can access these features, go to your Settings page in the Shopify admin, and click on Customers. Under New customer accounts, select Manage subscriptions and turn the option on. 

You’ll also be able to set up automated notifications for customers using your subscription plans, by going to Settings then Notifications, and clicking on the Subscriptions option under Customer notifications. 

Alternatives to the Shopify Subscriptions App

While the Shopify Subscriptions app is a good, native option for companies who want to sell subscriptions on their Shopify store, it’s far from the most advanced option. If you’re looking to unlock more functionality, here are some alternatives we recommend:

• Smartrr: Smartrr is a convenient app that allows you to create subscriptions, bundles, and loyalty programs for your customers. It’s easy to use, and has a free trial available, plus paid options with automated SMS and email notifications, and advanced analytics. It also allows you to create a huge range of different subscription policies. 
• Recharge Subscriptions: Recharge is packed with great features for Shopify sellers and their customers. You can use it to create a unified checkout experience, design customer portals, and design curated bundles for your products. Plus, there are tons of subscription options to choose from, including subscription boxes. 
• Loop Subscriptions: One of the most popular Shopify Subscriptions apps for D2C sellers, Loop allows you to design a wide range of subscription experiences, with gamification elements, branded bundles, and more. You even get access to a branded customer portal, with upselling capabilities on the paid plans. 
• Subify Subscriptions: This easy-to-use app for Shopify comes with a range of customizable widget templates, and a customer portal where customers can set up and manage their subscriptions, without help from your customer service team. It supports a range of subscription types, including access subscriptions, memberships, and replenishment options.
• Skio subscriptions: Skio is a comprehensive subscriptions app, with support for custom and dynamic pricing models, recurring payments, tiered pricing, trial periods and more. It offers access to rich analytics, a range of subscription types, and powerful tools for boosting customer retention and conversion rates. 

Design a Custom Subscriptions Experience

If you’re not overly impressed by the straightforward features of the Shopify Subscriptions App, or you want to create a more unique experience for your customers, the best option is to work with a Shopify Expert. An expert with design and development knowledge can help you create bespoke subscription experiences, using the best possible integrations and add-ons. 

The great thing about working with a developer is it gives you complete control over every aspect of the customer journey, ensuring you can make your brand really stand out. 

You can even work with a developer to create a Shopify store where customers can design their own subscription boxes. This is a great way to boost your chances of higher, recurring revenue, by giving customers a personalized shopping experience. 

Here are some great examples of the types of experiences you can create with the help of the right Shopify Expert. 

Ready to Get Started with Shopify Subscriptions?

Subscriptions are an excellent way to boost your Shopify store’s profitability, with a consistent source of recurring revenue. They can help you earn more loyal customers, improve retention rates, and optimize your company’s cashflow. 

Whether you choose to use Shopify’s native s

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