- Shopify subscription apps at a glance
- Eleven Shopify subscription apps to consider
- Make the renewal terms obvious
- Subscribe and save, boxes or memberships?
- Questions to ask before you install
- Features that keep subscribers longer
- When to move to a bigger platform
- What to test on your own store
- My plain advice on choosing a subscription app
- Frequently asked questions
The best Shopify subscription app depends on what you sell on repeat: a free app suits simple subscribe-and-save, a box builder suits curated or build-your-own boxes, and an established platform suits large brands with many subscribers. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Subscriptions turn one good order into a relationship. They also add a new set of jobs: renewals, skips, swaps, failed cards and customers who want to pause rather than cancel.
The eleven apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from Shopify's own free app to platforms built for large brands. Every description comes from each app's listing on the Shopify App Store, read this week. If you're thinking about the wider retention picture, my guide to upselling and retention in ecommerce is worth a look.
Shopify subscription apps at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free app or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appstle Subscriptions | Shopify subscriptions and subscription box app | Subscription boxes and build-a-box | Yes |
| Awtomic | Shopify subscription app for wine clubs and boxes | Wine clubs and wineries | Trial only |
| Bold Subscriptions | Shopify subscription app | Flexible schedules and upsells | Trial only |
| Joy Subscriptions | Shopify subscription app | Free setup and migration help | Yes |
| Loop Subscriptions | All-in-one Shopify subscription app | Cancel flows and bundles | Yes |
| PayWhirl | Shopify subscription app | Custom plans with APIs and webhooks | Trial only |
| Recharge | Subscription platform for Shopify brands | Fast-growing Shopify brands | Trial only |
| Recurpay | Shopify subscription app | Replenishment plans and migration help | Yes |
| Seal Subscriptions | Shopify subscriptions and memberships app | Memberships and digital access | Yes |
| Shopify Subscriptions | Shopify's own subscriptions app | Subscriptions online and in person | Yes |
| Smartrr | Shopify subscriptions and loyalty app | Subscriptions plus loyalty rewards | Trial only |
Eleven Shopify subscription apps to consider
Appstle Subscriptions
Best for: Merchants that want subscriptions, subscription boxes and build-a-box offers, backed by round-the-clock merchant support.
Awtomic
Best for: Wineries, specialty food and coffee brands that want wine clubs, build-a-box bundles and a POS link for in-store sales.
Bold Subscriptions
Best for: Retailers that want flexible schedules, convertible subscriptions, upsells and a full customer portal in one subscription app.
Joy Subscriptions
Best for: Growing brands that want subscribe-and-save, boxes and bundles with free setup by the app team and live support.
Loop Subscriptions
Best for: Fast-growing brands that want smart offers, bundles and personalised cancel flows to keep subscribers longer.
PayWhirl
Best for: Developers and stores that want custom subscription plans plus APIs, webhooks and US-based support by phone, chat or email.
Recharge
Best for: Larger Shopify brands that want a customer portal, cancellation saves and failed-card recovery in an established subscription platform.
Recurpay
Best for: Sellers launching replenishment plans or subscription boxes that want a self-serve portal and help moving from another app.
Seal Subscriptions
Best for: Stores selling memberships, digital access or free trials as well as product subscriptions, set up in minutes.
Shopify Subscriptions
Best for: Merchants keeping things simple who want subscriptions set up from the admin, including selling subscription products on POS.
Smartrr
Best for: Growing brands that want subscriptions and loyalty rewards working together on one platform without any development work.
Make the renewal terms obvious
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that under the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act a seller must disclose clearly all material terms of the transaction and get the consumer's express informed consent before charging them.
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Whichever app you choose, check its checkout wording, confirmation emails and cancel flow make renewals clear. Customers who feel tricked don't just cancel, they leave reviews.
Subscribe and save, boxes or memberships?
Subscribe-and-save suits consumables people reorder, like coffee, supplements or pet food. Box builders suit curated or build-your-own boxes. Membership tools suit access, perks or clubs, such as wine clubs. Some apps cover all three, but most have a clear strength.
Questions to ask before you install
- Can customers skip, swap, pause and cancel themselves?
- How does it handle failed card payments?
- Does it work with your theme without custom code?
- Can you move existing subscribers across from another app?
- Which email and loyalty tools does it connect to?
- Does it support selling subscriptions in person on POS?
Features that keep subscribers longer
- Pause and skip. A break instead of a cancellation.
- Product swaps. Customers try something new without leaving.
- Failed card recovery. Fewer accidental cancellations.
- Cancel flow offers. A last chance to keep someone happy.
When to move to a bigger platform
If you're handling thousands of subscribers, many product types or complex bundles, and support tickets about subscriptions keep growing, it's time to compare the larger platforms on this list.
What to test on your own store
Install your shortlisted app on a test product and subscribe as a customer. Then skip an order, swap a product, change the delivery date and cancel. If any step needs an email to you, your customers will feel that friction too. It's worth an hour of testing before a single real subscriber signs up.
Do you make a Shopify subscription app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a subscription app
Start simple. If you're testing subscriptions on a few products, a free app will tell you whether customers want them before you commit to a bigger platform.
Once subscriptions are working, look hard at the customer portal and cancel flow. That's where you keep subscribers or lose them. The benchmarks in this guide to Shopify store conversion help you judge whether the subscribe option is pulling its weight.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Shopify subscription app?
It's an app that lets Shopify stores sell products on a repeating schedule, with renewals, a customer portal and subscription management.
Is there a free Shopify subscription app?
Yes. Shopify's own subscriptions app is listed as free, and several other apps list a free plan. Check the table.
Can customers manage their own subscriptions?
Most apps include a customer portal where subscribers can skip, swap, pause or cancel.
Can I sell subscription boxes on Shopify?
Yes. Several apps on this list offer subscription boxes or build-a-box features.
Can I move subscribers from one app to another?
Usually, yes. Some apps offer migration help, so ask before you switch.
What does the FTC say about subscriptions?
Under the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act, sellers must clearly disclose material terms and get express informed consent before charging.
