Subscriptions are one of the highest-LTV revenue models in e-commerce. Shopify’s Selling Plans API makes it possible to offer subscribe-and-save, replenishment subscriptions, and membership products natively. Here’s how to set it up.
What Are Shopify Selling Plans?
Selling Plans are Shopify’s native subscription framework. Instead of a third-party workaround, Selling Plans integrate directly into the product page, cart, and checkout — giving customers a seamless experience.
Step 1: Choose a Subscription App
- Recharge Subscriptions — most popular, works with all themes, very feature-rich
- Bold Subscriptions — good for mixed subscription + one-time carts
- Appstle Subscriptions — affordable, great for beginners
- Loop Subscriptions — best for D2C brands with dunning management
Step 2: Create a Selling Plan Group
After installing your app, create a Selling Plan Group — a set of subscription options like “Weekly”, “Monthly”, “Every 3 months”. Each plan specifies billing frequency, discount, and charge timing.
Step 3: Assign Plans to Products
Attach your Selling Plan Group to products you want as subscriptions. The product page will then show a “Subscribe and Save” toggle automatically.
Step 4: Configure Payment Methods
Subscriptions require a payment processor that supports recurring billing. Shopify Payments, Stripe, and Braintree all support subscription payments natively.
Step 5: Set Up Customer Portal
All major subscription apps include a self-serve portal where subscribers can pause, skip, swap products, or cancel. This reduces churn and support load.
Common Issues and Fixes
- Subscribe button not showing — Make sure your theme supports Selling Plans
- Subscription failing at checkout — Verify your payment gateway supports recurring
- Customers can’t manage subscription — Check that the portal URL is in your email notifications
