- What Is Subscription and How Does It Work?
- Which Type of Shopify Product Works Well with The Subscription Model?
- The Best Shopify Subscription Apps to Drive Recurring Revenue
- 1. Appstle Subscriptions & Loyalty
- 2. Recharge Subscriptions
- 3. Bold Subscriptions
- 4. Seal Subscriptions℠ & Loyalty
- 5. Yotpo Subscriptions
- 6. Subscriptions by Loop
- 7. RecurrinGO! Subscriptions
- 8. Subscription App by Recurpay
- 9. PayWhirl Subscription Payments
- 10. Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)
- 11. Ongoing Subscriptions
- Start creating your recurring revenue
- FAQs about Shopify Subscription Apps
11+ Best Shopify Subscription Apps to Get More Sales
Subscription-based business model, which utilizes the benefits of recurring orders, is an all-in-one method that helps take your eCommerce business to a whole new level.
Although it is not a freshly emerged concept, subscription in eCommerce offers a unique revenue stream and lifetime customer value. As a Shopify store owner, you might be tempted to learn all about the ins and outs of it, but not sure where to start. Leave the hard work to us to craft a compact list of the best subscription apps for Shopify at your disposal. All you need to do is sit back, scroll through, and make a decision.
What Is Subscription and How Does It Work?
Subscription, in its most basic sense, is the action of signing up for a product or service in order to receive it periodically. The goods are often delivered automatically, based on the agreed-upon payment and time. This type of selling and buying merchandise can be found in every corner of eCommerce. Understandably, the types of subscription products can range from home utilities to food, and almost anything that pops up in one’s mind.
The interval can differ as well, based on the versatility of the business, the specific product, or the customer’s preference. It can range from weekly, monthly, and bi-annually to annually.
Learn more: How to Start a Shopify Subscription Box Business in 5 Easy Steps
Which Type of Shopify Product Works Well with The Subscription Model?
As mentioned above, the list of subscription products is technically unlimited, as long as it is reasonable, legal, and there is a need for it.
Think of a product that you regularly use that definitely will not last for a lifetime. In most cases, that product is eligible to work well with the subscription model. For example, a toothbrush is bound to be replaced every 3 months, whereas a 500g bag of coffee could last for roughly 2 months if you are a regular drinker. Having your beloved product delivered to your doorsteps on the exact day you prefer eliminates the hassle of running out of it in the most unfortunate time. That is the magic of a subscription product.
With that being said, not only tangible goods are qualified. Digital products and services, like a streaming platform, or a membership for a gym are also subscription-based.
The Best Shopify Subscription Apps to Drive Recurring Revenue
1. Appstle Subscriptions & Loyalty
Appstle is the perfect archetype for a good sample size. Its 4.9 rating, in accordance with over 1700 reviews truly goes to show the legitimacy of this subscription app. This app grants both customers and business owners the freedom to alter the subscriptions that cater to their needs. The convenience of the performance tracker function also keeps sellers on top of the state of their business.
Ratings and reviews: 4.9/5 (1753)
Key features:
- Smoothly integrated with Shopify: Hassle-free catalog management, secure and flexible checkouts.
- Custom shipping profiles: Multiple shipping profiles are available for you to manage simultaneously.
- Tiered discounts: Discounts and benefits can be offered to customer who reaches a pre-set number of deliveries, which helps boost customer loyalty and relationships.
- Self-managed customer portal: Gives the customers the liberty to make changes to their subscriptions and deliveries.
- Advanced email notifications: Target and automated emails to increase engagement.
- Management activity tracker: To be aware of inventory needs, order performance, failed transactions and unsubscribes to maximize retention.
Pricing and plan:
- Appstle currently offers free installation until the revenue reaches $500/month.
- Three types of paid plans: Starter, Business and Business Premium (lowest from $10/month and up to $100/month).
2. Recharge Subscriptions
Recharge is also a heavyweight contender in the subscription app championship. With its prime focus on boosting lifetime value and preventing customer churn, Recharge prides itself in “turning transactions into relationships”, which evidently displays its ultimate goal of facilitating subscriptions in order to maximize revenue and engagement.
Ratings and reviews: 4.7/5 (1284)
Key features:
- Beginner-friendly setup: Easily integrate with Shopify Payments and top commerce tools
- Increase lifetime value and reduce customer churn by offering custom features, such as self-managed subscriptions, easy-to-follow order alterations (adding one-time products, swapping products, etc), automated notifications and simple payment process
- Convenient tracker gives you an overlook at the revenue, customers, and subscriptions
Pricing and plan:
- Recharge Subscriptions is free to install
- There is a paid plan option which is $499/month (including transaction fee)
3. Bold Subscriptions
This Official Shopify Plus Certified App is designed to bring the best subscription service to Direct-to-customer brands. After 8 years in business, Bold has declared itself a trustworthy and dependable app for both latecomers as well as experienced users. The self-manageable customer portal is guaranteed to deliver a seamless experience to your customers and keep them coming back, time and time again.
Ratings and reviews: 4.2/5 (274)
Key features:
- Customize and transform your store into a subscription-based business with just a few clicks. “Subscribe-and-save” options, customizable themes, infallible dashboard, integrated Shopify discount codes, etc, are right at your fingertips
- Engage customers and reduce churn with features that cater to customer’s needs, such as automated email updates, flexible checkout options (one-time and subscription products combination), and payments and personal information in their own language. With its dunning management, the numbers of cancellations and failed transactions are also bound to decrease
- The option to experience your own service from customer’s perspective
- 24/7 support with specialist’s help in app installation with zero added cost
Pricing and plan:
Bold Subscriptions has a 60-day free trial, with a paid plan of $49.99/month (with fee for every order with subscription products) after that.
4. Seal Subscriptions℠ & Loyalty
This compact subscription app packs a hefty punch. The multi-functional features, namely automated product swaps, easy platform migration, mixed subscriptions, and more, are sure to maintain a long-lasting relationship between sellers and customers. Proudly made in Europe by a team of eCommerce experts, Seal is presented as an all-in-one service with unmatched prices.
Ratings and reviews: 4.9/5 (543)
Key features:
- Customer’s subscription control: combine different subscription, custom customer portal
- Free shipping available for subscription orders
- No transaction fees
- Made in Europe
Pricing and plan:
The app is free to install, with three different paid plan to choose from (starting at only $4.95/month)
5. Yotpo Subscriptions
Branded as “the leading eCommerce marketing platform”, Yotpo is on its way to become a household name among the other well-established subscription apps. This rising app built itself around being simple, yet impactful. Sellers are bound to be impressed by its easy discount control, native checkout experience, or agile migration. The app is free to install, with paid plans after a $500 monthly revenue.
Ratings and reviews: 4.9 (30)
Key features:
- Meticulous migration that protects your data
- Install and set up in minutes: customizable “Subscribe & Save” widget, natuve Shopify checkout, unlimited subscription plans, etc
- In-depth performance tracker
- Smooth shopping experience: self-managed subscriptions, login sans password, automated notifications
Pricing and plan:
Yotpo is free to install, with paid plans after $500 monthly revenue. 1% transaction fee, no monthly fee.
6. Subscriptions by Loop
With impeccable rating and reviews, Loop has cemented its position as a no-hassle and reliable subscription app. Its unique subscription box curation puts the freedom in the seller’s hands in building the most desirable service, not only for physical goods, but digital products and services, as well as membership.
The app’s versatility marks its spot as a no-brainer for sellers who want to transform their businesses into a subscription-based one.
Ratings and reviews: 5.0 (96)
Key features:
- Diverse subscription products
- Quick and easy set up
- Intuitive customer portal
- Different subscription plans (prepaid subscriptions, anchors billing, etc)
Pricing and plan:
Free to install, with two paid plans starting at $99/month
7. RecurrinGO! Subscriptions
If you are looking for a straightforward, transparent subscription app with reasonable pricing, RecurrinGO! might be the way to, well, go.
Its features ensure to take care of all the questions that one might have in mind, from how to manage subscriptions effectively, to reduce customer churn. The 24/7 support right in the app is also a considerable element whenever a specific problem needs tending to.
Ratings and reviews: 4.6 (172)
Key features:
- Smart subscription management: make changes to products within minutes with ease
- Personalized email notifications
- Customizable widget
- Multiple subscriptions and mixed purchased, all in one cart
- Dunning and cancellation management
- Embedded in the Shopify Admin
Pricing and plan:
The app is free to install, with three paid plans starting at $19/month
8. Subscription App by Recurpay
For the low, low price of free until you have made $100 in monthly sales, Recurpay is another subscription app for your consideration. Its notable straightforwardness in setting up the subscription function helps build a secure foundation for a smooth-sailing subscription-based business. The inclusive, multilingual portal with local currency gives your customers an easy-to-follow shopping experience every time. Although newly launched, Recurpay has garnered a solid 4.9 rating.
Ratings and reviews: 4.9 (94)
Key features:
- Multi-currency subscription app
- Tiered discounting and product trials
- Automatic billing
- Keep the customers informed with email and WhatsApp notifications
Pricing and plan:
The app is free to start until you have made $100 in subscription revenue
9. PayWhirl Subscription Payments
By integrating “Payments” into its name, PayWhirl has shown its ultimate dedication to attaining the most comprehensive recurring payments.
With customer’s accommodation in mind, PayWhirl allows them to manage their subscriptions on their own. For the sellers, the subscriptions and features are unlimited on all plans. Needless to say, your business will be in good hands when it comes to leveling up your subscription payments with PayWhirl.
Ratings and reviews: 4.8 (174)
Key features:
Multi-currency and multi-language support
Automatic dunning and failed payment management tools
No-contact, self-managed subscription by customers
Shopify Payments, Stripe, Authorize and PayPal Express Support
Pricing and plan:
PayWhirl offers truly competitive prices in comparison to similar apps. It is free to install, with three paid plans that are priced at $9, $49, and $249 per month
10. Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)
This app’s hip user interface could be what you prefer, but its one-of-a-kind features might be the deciding factor for you to partner up with them. All the areas of running a subscription-based business are covered and explained, alongside unparalleled aspects to ensure a well-rounded operation.
For the sellers, gradual rollout migrations to test the water.
For the customers, passwordless and automated login.
Ratings and reviews: 4.9 (101)
Key features:
- Easy migration: gradual rollout migrations available to test on new users first before migrating existing users
- One-click checkout: native Shopify checkout with PayPal as a payment option
- Passwordless login. Customers do not get automatically logged out
- Free performance analytics
- Modern technology to ensure a smooth operation
Pricing and plan:
With its ideal features that are both beginner-friendly and suitable for experts, Skio offers one singular plan with a price of $399/month
11. Ongoing Subscriptions
What might influence customer’s decisions in going with a subscription product instead of a one-time one, besides the conspicuous convenience? Discounts, more discounts, and even more discounts.
Ongoing Subscriptions understands that inclination, hence its made-easy features to entice customers in choosing your business over the other. By combining customers' already-adored products with alluring discounts, they will feel more inclined to come back for more. In league with other features that put customer’s accommodation above all, this app might be just what you need to incorporate subscription products into your brand.
Ratings and reviews: 5.0 (118)
Key features:
- Three types of discounts (percentage-based, amount off, set price)
- Two options of subscriptions with different intervals (pay per delivery and prepaid)
- Automatic recurring billing and payments
- Revenue reports for subscription products
- Self-managed customer portal
Pricing and plan:
Ongoing has a 30-day free trial for new users. Paid plans are priced at $99 and $299/month
Pro tip: To enhance your business strategy, consider utilizing both subscription box apps and loyalty apps. Here are a few noteworthy suggestions: BON Loyalty: Loloyal: Growave: Loyalty & Wishlist: UpPromote Affiliate.
Start creating your recurring revenue
Whether you are a seasoned store owner who is yearning for a change, or a neophyte who is simply doing research, having a poignant subscription app for guidance is a good idea. With the convenience of a subscription app by your side, your business can grow naturally with the boost of both customer lifetime value and monthly revenue.
Nevertheless, for a business to develop sustainably, it is best to have a mix of all the most effective factors, namely a subscription function, or a powerful page builder like GemPages.
Among the above-mentioned 11 subscription apps, we sincerely hope that one could be the right fit for your business. Now, let’s get that subscription program rolling!
