Introduction
Subscription-based services are booming—and with good reason. They offer predictable revenue, boost customer retention, and deliver convenience that keeps customers coming back. If you’re running a Shopify store and want to tap into this growing business model, you’re in the right place.
This guide will walk you through how to build a Shopify subscription service, including the tools you need, how to set up recurring billing, and tips to optimise your subscription offering for long-term success.
Why Offer Subscriptions on Shopify?
Before diving into the technical setup, let’s look at why subscriptions are a smart move for eCommerce businesses.
Benefits of a subscription model:
- Predictable revenue: Monthly billing provides financial stability
- Customer loyalty: Subscriptions increase retention and lifetime value
- Scalability: Easier to forecast and grow with consistent demand
- Convenience for customers: No need to reorder regularly—products arrive on schedule
- Valuable data insights: More frequent engagement with customers provides richer behavioural data
Whether you sell coffee, skincare, supplements, or digital memberships, subscriptions are a great fit.
Step 1: Choose a Subscription App Compatible with Shopify
Shopify doesn’t have native subscription billing features, so you’ll need to integrate with a Shopify-approved subscription app.
Recommended apps:
- Recharge Payments – Most popular and robust, with advanced customization
- Bold Subscriptions – Great flexibility for mixed carts and promotional offers
- Appstle Subscriptions – Affordable and feature-rich for new stores
- Skio – Sleek UI and seamless checkout for Shopify Plus users
Tip: Make sure your app integrates well with your Shopify theme and existing checkout flow.
Step 2: Install the Subscription App and Configure Settings
Once you’ve selected and installed the app:
Key configuration steps:
- Choose products to offer as subscriptions
- You can offer individual products or bundles
- Allow customers to select “one-time purchase” or “subscribe and save”
- Set delivery frequency options
- Weekly, fortnightly, monthly—offer what makes sense for your product
- Set up recurring billing
- Your app will integrate with Shopify Payments or Stripe
- Customers are billed automatically based on the schedule they choose
- Customize your subscription widget
- Match it to your store’s branding and user experience
Step 3: Test the Subscription Flow
Before going live, test the full subscription flow to make sure everything is functioning properly.
What to test:
- Adding a subscription product to the cart
- Selecting a frequency
- Processing a test payment
- Receiving confirmation emails
- Managing the subscription from the customer portal
Bonus: Have a friend or colleague test the process with fresh eyes—they may catch issues you missed.
Step 4: Optimise the Customer Experience
A good subscription experience goes beyond billing—it’s about ease of use and customer control.
Best practices:
- Offer a customer portal where users can pause, skip, or cancel
- Send automated reminders before renewals or deliveries
- Allow easy upgrades (e.g. change quantity or delivery frequency)
- Provide a loyalty program or perks for long-term subscribers
Tip: Transparency builds trust—make it easy for customers to leave, and they’re more likely to come back.
Step 5: Market Your Subscription Offer
Now that your subscription is live, it’s time to spread the word. Highlight the value and convenience of recurring purchases.
Marketing tactics:
- Homepage banners promoting “Subscribe & Save”
- Email automation for subscription onboarding and retention
- Upsell during checkout: Suggest subscriptions instead of one-time purchases
- Social media content: Highlight unboxing, benefits, and real customer stories
- Influencer or UGC campaigns focused on lifestyle and routine
Step 6: Track Performance and Optimise
Once your Shopify subscription service is live, use analytics to monitor performance and improve over time.
Key metrics to track:
- Monthly recurring revenue (MRR)
- Customer churn rate
- Average subscription length
- Customer lifetime value (LTV)
- Email open/click rates for subscription touchpoints
Use this data to refine your pricing, delivery intervals, and messaging.
Bonus: Ideas for Subscription-Based Products
Not sure if your product is subscription-friendly? Here are common categories that perform well:
- Consumables: Coffee, tea, vitamins, pet food, skincare
- Lifestyle kits: Monthly stationery, meal kits, hobby boxes
- Memberships: Exclusive content, courses, digital downloads
- Refillable products: Eco-friendly cleaning supplies, beauty refills
- Wellness plans: Fitness programs, meditation sessions, supplements
If your product is replenishable, habit-based, or curated, it’s a strong candidate.
Conclusion
Creating a subscription service on Shopify is a powerful way to build long-term customer relationships and generate predictable revenue. With the right tools and setup, you can transform your store into a subscription-based business that grows with your audience.
Next step:
Choose your subscription app, set up your recurring billing, and launch your first subscription product. The future of eCommerce is recurring—and you’re ready to be part of it.
