10 Best Shopify Subscription Apps To Never Miss Out in 2022

Subscription-based businesses are rising. Numerous businesses that used to work on the pay-once and use forever model are switching to the subscription business model. This is because there are countless benefits of billing your customers on a recurring basis. You can increase your customer lifetime value, attract more customers, increase return on customer acquisition costs, drive higher revenue through Upselling and cross-selling, and much more.

To create and offer subscription services, businesses running on Shopify prefer using subscription apps. Below are some of the 10 best Shopify subscription apps which are most popular among the Shopify online stores. These apps help you set up and manage subscriptions, enable clients to automate purchases using recurring payments, create subscription boxes for beauty lines or pet care products, and a lot more.

We shortlisted these subscription apps after reviewing the app ratings, reviews, UI/UX, top features, and customer support. Let's get started!👇

What is a Subscription based Business Model?

A subscription-based business model is an online business that offers clients the option of streamlining purchases while ensuring your store’s sustainability through a recurrent revenue stream. Online stores that use this model will most likely have specific products and services that they offer to customers who have a periodical subscription.

In essence, subscription-based business models offer customers the option to pay extra to gain unrestricted long-term access to products and services. According to the reports, McKinsey estimates that approximately 15% of online shoppers have enrolled in e-commerce subscription services. McKinsey also stated that the e-commerce subscription market has skyrocketed by over 300% in recent years.

The Purpose of Subscription Apps

Integrating Shopify subscription apps in your store provides you an option of offering a range of subscription packages to your customers. These apps ensure that you don’t have to rely on the one-off purchase option for tangible and downloadable goods. 

With these apps, store owners can generate recurring revenue by ensuring that customers make regular payments in exchange for long-term access to their services.

These apps also ease the process of setting up subscriptions on your store, issuing automatic payment reminders, and obtaining real-time data analytics to understand your customer base.

Let's Review the 10 Best Subscription Apps For Shopify (Pros & Cons)

1. Subscriptions by Yotpo

by Yotpo

Have you been looking for an intuitive Shopify subscription app to help you manage your store’s subscriptions? Subscriptions by Yotpo empower your store with features like a native checkout experience, easy discount control, smooth catalog management, and much more.

This app also allows you to obtain more subscribers using Yotpo SMS, increase CLTV, and provide attractive customer incentives using Yotpo Loyalty & Referrals.

Another major popular offering of this brand is the Product Reviews app.

Key features - Pros

• Sell subscriptions within a few minutes.
• Customers can easily modify their subscriptions. 
• Customizable subscribe & save the widget.
• Create unlimited subscription plans.
• Automatically integrates with your Shopify checkout and theme.

Cons

• No specific monthly pricing plans, which makes it difficult to budget for it

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Pricing: Free to install. Paid plans start once you exceed $500/month in subscription sales. 1% per additional transactions, no monthly fees.

Shopify app link

2. Subscriptions Recurring Orders

by Propel Commerce

Many popular brands rely on Propel Subscriptions to improve sales and revenue streams. The app features powerful tools for creating and managing subscriptions. You also get 24/7 support through live chat and full customization to match your store’s outlook.

With this app, you also get to choose the customer subscription cancellation methods. There’s more, there is robust dunning management that sends automated payment notifications to your customers.

Thoughtfully designed keeping the UI/UX in mind, the app is fully compatible with Shopify 2.0 themes. Shoppers can buy both subscription and one-time items at the same checkout, making it possible for you to offer one-time upsells alongside your subscription items.

Key features - Pros

• Stunning product page widget.
• Convenient customer portal for substantial management. 
• Seamlessly integrates with your Shopify store’s checkout.
• Customizable and personalized email notifications. 
• Mixed cart checkout support, which offers both subscription services and one-off upsells.
• Fast loading time on product pages.

Cons

• The customer portal is inadequate when compared to other subscription apps. 

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Pricing: Pricing plans are as follows: FREE, STARTER ($4.95/month), BUSINESS ($9.95/month), and ENTERPRISE ($19.95/month).

Shopify app link

3. Appstle Subscriptions & Loyalty

by Appstle Inc.

Being one of the best Shopify subscription apps, Appstle is a reliable recurring app that offers services consistently to your clients while ensuring regular revenue sources for your store.

The app features revolutionary & powerful tools and stunning customizations to help you set up an efficient subscription service. Furthermore, the app provides various loyalty rewarding mechanisms to motivate your subscribers. With such features, you’ll be able to retain your existing customers and gain newer clients.

Key features - Pros

• Automatic email notifications. 
• Real-time analytics on customers, performance, and revenue.
• Develop a loyalty program with tiered discounts and shipping.
• Easy catalog management.
• Secure checkout with native Shopify integration.
• Intuitive customer portal for managing subscriptions.

Cons

• Complex procedures are involved when shifting from other Shopify subscription apps.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Pricing: Pricing plans are as follows: FREE (Free to install), STARTER ($10/month or $8/month billed at $96 once per year), BUSINESS ($30/month or $24/month billed at $288 once per year), and ENTERPRISE ($100/month or $80/month billed at $960 once per year). A 30-day free trial is also available.

Shopify app link

4. Recurpay: Subscriptions App

by Recurpay

Recurpay is a highly reliable subscription app that allows you to set up subscription services on Shopify within minutes. The app lets you integrate subscription payments in your Shopify store with a wide range of features like automated billing and email & WhatsApp notifications.

What’s more, the installation process and user interface are easy, friendly, and simple. With Recurpay, you can boost your cash flow while also enhancing customer loyalty in your Shopify store.  

Key features - Pros

• Keep your clients informed with regular email and WhatsApp notifications.
• Dunning management allows you to send automated renewal links.
• Customizable subscription widget.
• Automatic billing to capture recurrent payments.
• Customer incentives through tiered discounting.

Cons

• There are additional charges (percentages on sales).

Rating: 4.9/5.0

Pricing: Free

Shopify app link

5. Seal Subscriptions & Loyalty

by Seal Subscriptions

Seal Subscriptions makes the whole process of subscription service configuration look very easy. With just a few steps, you can set up your subscription services and enjoy recurring revenue from your store. The app features auto-charging and recurring invoices modes which can be used concurrently. It also offers a secure checkout process which boosts your clients’ confidence in your store. It also integrates with a bundler app, enabling you to offer subscription box services in your store.

Key features - Pros

• Migrate from other platforms quickly and easily. You can do it manually or use bulk subscription importation.
• Efficient customer portal where clients manage their subscriptions.
• Customers can have multiple subscriptions on one cart.
• Set up a customer reward system with subscription discounts.
• Offers subscription box functionality in your Shopify store.

Cons

• Limited subscriptions in the free plan.
• Users may face occasional complications with the automatic billing feature.

Rating: 4.9/5.0

Pricing: Pricing plans are as follows: FREE FOR LIFE, SUPERSALE ($4.95/month), RISING STAR ($7.95/month), and LEGEND ($20/month). A 30-day free trial is also available.

Shopify app link

6. PayWhirl Subscription Payments

by PayWhirl Inc.

PayWhirl Subscription streamlines processes such as customers purchasing subscriptions, managing their accounts, and saving payment methods on your Shopify store. This app integrates with your Shopify store to enable clients to change payment plans, and update addresses, profile information, and saved cards.

Customers can complete all these processes without requesting support from your business. Many online store owners have integrated PayWhirl in their stores to optimize their subscription billing.

Key features - Pros

• Automatic billing ensures recurring revenue.
• Integrates with your Shopify theme and checkout.
• Offers a wide range of subscription discount options.
• Features a subscription analytics dashboard.
• Offers email, live chat & phone support.
• Unlimited features and subscriptions.
• Seamless migration from other platforms.

Cons

• Clients can’t swap products.
• Pricing plans (except the ultimate plan) feature a high transaction fee.

Rating: 4.9/5.0

Pricing: Pricing plans are as follows: STARTER (Free to install), PRO ($9/month), PLUS ($49/month), and ULTIMATE ($249/month). A 14-day free trial is also available.

Shopify app link

7. Loop Subscriptions

by Loop

Loop Subscription helps you convert your Shopify store into a subscription business with just a few clicks. Whether you offer digital products, physical products, or memberships, it doesn’t matter, you can offer a subscription option for all. This app features a series of efficient tools you can use to motivate one-time shoppers to purchase long-term subscriptions.

With the Loop Subscriptions Shopify app, you can build a curated subscription box by making specific products subscriptions only. You can use tiered discounts or integrate subscriptions at the Shopify checkout. Customers also get automated notifications to keep them in the loop. 

Key features - Pros

• Customer portal for clients to manage subscriptions.
• Native Shopify checkout integration offers one-off purchases as well as multiple subscriptions.
• Allow subscriptions for digital products, physical products, or memberships, 
• Failed payments alert, payment reminders, and skipped orders alerts to minimize cancellations.
• Tiered discounts to encourage more customers to subscribe.
• Automatic billing of subscribers.

Cons

• Few advanced subscription features in the Free and Growth plans.

Rating: 4.9/5.0

Pricing: Pricing plans are as follows: FREE, GROWTH ($5/month), PREMIUM ($49/month), and ULTIMATE ($499/month).

Shopify app link

8. Recharge Subscriptions

by Recharge

Imagine a world where people have to constantly pay for the same product whenever they need to use it. That can be quite tedious, hence the need to embrace subscription services.

Being another top-rated Shopify subscription plugin, Recharge subscriptions app helps you manage subscriptions and stay ahead of your competition. The app offers your customers automatic billing and notifications, delivery rescheduling, product swapping, and much more!

Key features - Pros

• Real-time data analytics on your store’s performance.
• Customer portal for clients to manage subscriptions.
• Seamless integration with the existing Shopify payment processors.
• Automatic notifications to constantly update customers.
• Powerful APIs which make your business flexible.

Cons

• There is a fee charged on every transaction made.
• You are required to manually set up subscription services for every product.

Rating: 4.8/5.0

Pricing: Pricing plans are STANDARD (Free to install) and PRO ($300/month).

Shopify app link

9. Subscription & Recurring Order

by SpurlT UAB

If you are a small business looking for a comprehensive but free subscription app, then SUbscription & Recurring Order is your go-to app. The app features powerful and efficient functionality & tools you can use to optimize your store’s revenue stream.

Your clients can take full control of their subscriptions from the customer portal. You can also automate notifications to remind customers about payments or skipped orders.

Key features - Pros

• Automatic billing to ensure recurring payments.
• Fully customizable subscription widget.
• Real-time analytics and insights on your store’s performance and revenue.
• Smart subscription management.
• Customer portal for canceling, pausing, or skipping subscriptions.
• Dunning management to minimize churn.

Cons

• Shopify checkout integration is not comprehensive compared to other apps.

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Pricing: Free

Shopify app link

10. Bold Subscriptions

by BOLD

Bold subscriptions is a popular subscription app trusted by some top brands on Shopify. You can set up subscription services with Bold’s built-in APIs and webhooks. Furthermore, the app features automated customer engagement, marketing, and reporting processes.

The app also allows smooth and free migration if you want to shift from other subscription platforms. There is a dedicated support team available 24/7 to assist.

Key features - Pros

• Smooth integration with existing Shopify discount codes.
• Comprehensive dashboard to track key subscription metrics.
• Send automated email notifications to clients.
• Dunning management to minimize failed transactions.
• Professional installation services.
• Robust subscription portal to optimize the user experience.

Cons

• No upgrades over time.
• Hefty monthly fee.
• Mandatory 1% transaction fee on every subscription order.

Rating: 4.3 /5.0

Pricing: It offers a 60-day free trial and a paid CORE plan priced at $49/month.

Shopify app link

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which type of Shopify Products works well with Subscription Models?

Subscription models ensure that Shopify stores achieve consistent sales and recurring revenue streams. But certain Shopify products thrive with subscription models compared to others. This is because they are likely to be bought more often.

For instance, people who love music will subscribe to Spotify and those who love movies will subscribe to Netflix or Showmax. Some Shopify products that work well with subscription models include:

• Beauty products - These products are mostly attributed to women. They will never stop buying makeup or skincare stashes. And they are always enthusiastic when it comes to trying out the newest beauty products on the market.
• Books - Every year numerous books are published. Many people love reading whether it’s fiction, journals, non-fiction, or encyclopedias.
• Accessories such as jewelry, face masks, nail art kits, socks, and shoelaces. These are products that are very likely to get lost in the house. Your customers won’t have an option but to keep buying from you. 
• Clothes - This is a basic want that people buy every single day. Maybe because they want to expand their closet, or they outgrew some of their clothes. 
• Coffee or tea - People drink either coffee or tea every day. It is a staple drink for almost every human being. You can go wrong with coffee or tea products. 
• Health drinks and foods like fresh juices, allergy-free foods, organic snacks, and vegan foods. The unique nature of these products makes them sell very quickly and consistently. That’s because they have a specific target market.

How do I Set up a Subscription Service on Shopify?

You can set up a subscription service on certain products, you intend to restrict purchases to subscriptions only. The first thing you should do is finish the setup steps of the installed subscription app on your Shopify store.

After you have finished the installation, follow these steps:

1. Go to Products on your Shopify admin
2. Select the product you want to add a subscription service to
3. Check the Sell product as a subscription only check box
4. Click Save

Wrapping Up

These 10 above-mentioned are some of the best Shopify subscription apps you can find in 2022. These apps will help you effectively build and manage your subscriptions, make subscription boxes, increase your monthly recurring revenues, average order value, and more.

Hope this blog helped you in your quest to find the best subscription app. 

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