Best Subscription App for Shopify in 2025: 11 Expert-Reviewed Options

Many Shopify merchants want the best subscription app for Shopify because subscriptions help increase recurring revenue, improve customer loyalty, and create a more predictable sales cycle. The challenge comes from the number of apps that look similar at first but perform very differently once your store starts to grow. 

This guide gives you a clear, practical breakdown of the top subscription apps that real Shopify brands use today, along with the strengths each app brings to different business models. The apps covered in this review:

1. Recharge
2. Skio
3. Loop Subscriptions
4. Appstle Subscriptions
5. Seal Subscriptions
6. Recurpay
7. Subi Subscriptions
8. Bold Subscriptions
9. Smartrr
10. PayWhirl
11. Ongoing Subscription

Let’s get in!

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How LitOS Chooses the Best Shopify Subscription App

Here at LitOS, we review subscription apps based on real Shopify setups and the practical needs of merchants who want long-term growth. Each app in this guide is evaluated with a consistent checklist that focuses on performance, reliability, and the overall subscription experience for both merchants and customers.

These criteria help LitOS identify apps that not only perform well on paper but also support real business needs. By using the same checklist for every tool, we can highlight the strengths of each app and show you which options work best for different store sizes and subscription models.

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11 Best Subscription Apps for Shopify

Shopify merchants often want a fast way to compare subscription apps before diving into detailed reviews. The overview below gives you a clear snapshot of pricing, ratings, key features, and the type of store each app fits best.

App info	Key features	Best for
Recharge Price: $50 to $499 monthly plus fee	Advanced workflows, prepaid options, churn tools, unified checkout, strong analytics	Enterprise brands and high growth DTC stores
Skio Price: $599 monthly plus fee	Passwordless login, smart cancel flow, fast migration, build a box, data platform	DTC brands focused on retention and smooth customer experience
Loop Subscriptions Price: Free plan plus paid tiers	Build a box, bundles, personalized cancel flow, automation workflows, payment recovery	Stores that sell subscription boxes or flexible bundles
Appstle Subscriptions Price: Free to $100 monthly	Build a box, tiered discounts, dunning, custom portal, automation, prepaid	Merchants that want strong features at an affordable price
Seal Subscriptions Price: Free to $24.95 monthly	Prepaid plans, analytics, Magic Link login, discount rules, migration tool	Small stores and budget focused merchants
Recurpay Price: Free to $349 monthly	API access, prepaid options, custom dates, free migration, customer portal	Stores that want simple setup plus developer flexibility
Subi Subscriptions and Loyalty Price: Free to $299 monthly	Loyalty points, membership tiers, multi language support, prepaid options	Brands that want loyalty features combined with subscriptions
Bold Subscriptions Price: $24.99 to $74.99 monthly	Advanced APIs, prepaid plans, subscription upgrades, flexible workflows	Stores with complex or custom subscription logic
Smartrr Subscriptions Price: $99 to $499 monthly plus fee	Branded portal, loyalty rewards, analytics, automated shipping, upsells	Fast growing DTC brands that prioritise customer experience
PayWhirl Price: Free to $149 monthly plus fee	Flexible billing cycles, drag and drop setup, dunning, analytics, custom templates	Stores that need custom billing rules without heavy complexity
Ongoing Subscriptions Price: $599 monthly plus fee	No code setup, bundled subscriptions, clean portal, simple management	Small teams that want a fast and easy subscription setup

Let’s get into detail to find your own best subscription app for Shopify!

1. Recharge – Most complete enterprise-level subscription solution

Recharge serves brands that need a heavy duty subscription system with strong performance under high order volume. The platform focuses on advanced workflows, recurring billing logic, and deep integration with Shopify Checkout, which makes it reliable for enterprise and fast scaling teams.

Key features:

• Customizable customer portal
• Retain tools that help reduce churn
• Build a box functionality and dynamic bundles
• Analytics and subscription insights
• Upsell and cross sell options
• Unified checkout for seamless customer flow
• Support for prepaid, tiered, and discounted subscriptions

Here is a quick overview of Recharge based on what Shopify merchants care about most.

Recharge Subscriptions App	Pros	Cons
Pricing: $50 to $499 monthly plus transaction fee Reviews: 4.8 stars from 1,951 reviews	– Stable performance for high volume stores – Strong retention and churn tools – Wide integration ecosystem	– Higher cost than most alternatives – Setup can feel complex for new users – Limited styling without technical help

Recharge works well for growing and enterprise brands that want a dependable subscription engine. LitOS recommends it to stores that rely on strong analytics, flexible subscription rules, and a system that handles large order volumes without issues.

2. Skio – Best for high-growth DTC brands

Skio delivers a frictionless subscription experience with passwordless login, fast account access, and a clean customer portal that reduces subscriber effort. Its standout strength is a churn-reduction flow that feels modern and simple for customers.

Key features:

• One click migration from Recharge and BOLD
• Passwordless login for higher customer retention
• Conditional cancel flow to reduce churn
• Build a box options with high flexibility
• Skio Data Platform for revenue insights
• Seamless integration with Shopify Checkout

Skio stands out for its retention-focused subscription flow and passwordless login, offering a smoother customer experience than heavier enterprise tools like Recharge. This fits fast-growing DTC brands that want simplicity and speed.

Here is a quick overview of Skio based on what Shopify merchants care about most.

Skio Subscriptions App Pricing: $599 monthly + 1% transaction fee Reviews: 5.0 stars from 227 reviews	Pros	Cons
	– Very strong retention features – Fast migration from other apps – Excellent customer support praised by users	– High monthly cost – Limited options for smaller stores – Some features work best for advanced DTC brands

We consider Skio a strong choice for brands that prioritise customer experience and retention. We recommend it for high growth DTC stores that want a fast, lightweight subscription flow.

3. Loop – Best choice for subscription boxes and flexible bundles

Loop Subscriptions is a best free subscription app for Shopify. It is built around subscription boxes and flexible bundles, giving merchants advanced build a box tools and personalised cancel flows. Its strongest highlight is the control it offers for brands that rely on bundled or curated products.

Key features:

• Automation workflows for faster scaling
• Subscription bundles and build a box functionality
• Personalized cancel flows to reduce churn
• Customer portal for orders, skips, and swaps
• Smart payment recovery with retry logic
• Analytics for subscriber growth and revenue

Loop stands out for its subscription box and bundle tools, which provide more flexibility than Skio and a smoother setup than the heavier enterprise features in Recharge. 

Here’s a quick look at Loop: 

Loop Subscriptions App Pricing: Free plan available Starter $99 monthly + 1% per transaction Pro $399 monthly + 0.5% per transaction Reviews: 5.0 stars from 547 reviews	Pros	Cons
	– Excellent for build a box and bundled subscriptions – Fast and responsive customer support – Simple customer portal that improves the shopper experience	– Advanced features require higher priced plans – Transaction percentage increases overall cost – Less suited for very small stores with low subscription volume

We see Loop as the best match for stores that want to scale subscription boxes with customisable experiences. We recommend it for brands where bundles and product swaps drive most recurring revenue.

4. Appstle – Best all-round automation & build-a-box

Appstle offers a wide range of automation features at a budget friendly price, including prepaid subscriptions, dunning logic, and a strong customer portal. Its core highlight is the feature depth relative to cost.

Key features:

• Build-a-box and product bundling options
• Tiered discounts and custom shipping rates
• Payment retries and churn prevention tools
• Advanced customer portal with quick login
• Subscription analytics and reporting
• Works with Checkout, Shopify Flow, Klaviyo, PageFly, Gorgias, Zapier, Growave, and Stripe

Appstle stands out for its strong feature set at an accessible price, giving it more value than Loop and Skio for merchants who want automation without high monthly fees.

Appstle Subscriptions App Pricing: Free plan available – Starter: $10 monthlyBusiness: $30 monthly – Business Premium: $100 monthly Reviews: 4.9 stars from 4,675 reviews	Pros	Cons
	– Best value for cost-to-feature ratio – Strong automation and retention tools – Excellent customer service praised by merchants	– Interface feels busy for some users – Many advanced features require setup time – Not as specialized in build-a-box as Loop

We view Appstle as the best value option for merchants that want advanced tools without enterprise pricing. We recommend it for stores of all sizes that need automation and reliability at a reasonable cost.

5. Seal Subscriptions – Most affordable with strong analytics

Seal provides essential subscription features with simple setup, clean analytics, and a generous free plan. Its standout strength is affordability combined with dependable core functionality.

Key features:

• Sell classic and prepaid subscriptions
• Tiered discounts and custom shipping rules
• Automatic payment retries and dunning
• Customer portal with Magic Link login
• Real time analytics and subscription insights
• Made in Europe with strong product stability

Seal stands out for its value and simplicity, offering more features at a lower starting price than Appstle and Loop. This makes it a strong choice for merchants who want essential subscription tools without high monthly costs.

Seal Subscriptions Pricing: Free plan available – Upsellase $5.95 monthly – Rising Star $9.95 monthly – Legend $24.95 monthly Reviews: 4.9 stars from 2,135 reviews	Pros	Cons
	– Very affordable and beginner friendly – Fast setup with a clean interface – Good analytics for the price	– Fewer advanced features than Appstle or Loop – Limited design customization – Less suited for large enterprise stores

We see Seal as the ideal entry point for new merchants exploring subscriptions. We recommend it for small to mid sized stores that want a low cost solution with all the basics done well.

6. Recurpay – Easiest setup for beginners

Recurpay gives merchants a lightweight subscription platform with flexible billing controls and developer friendly APIs. Its biggest strength is the balance between simple onboarding and customization options.

Key features: 

• Customer portal for edits, skips, reschedules, and cancellations
• Pay-as-you-go or prepaid subscription options
• Free white-glove migration from other apps
• API access and code-level customization
• Renewal options based on specific dates or order frequency
• Discounts, free shipping rules, and retries for failed payments

Recurpay stands out for its simplicity and flexibility, giving smaller stores an easier learning curve than Appstle and more customization freedom than Seal.

Recurpay: Subscription Partner Pricing: Free to install – Grow: $19 monthly – Scale: $349 monthly Reviews: 4.9 stars from 429 reviews	Pros	Cons
	– Easy to set up for beginners – Strong customization through APIs – Free migration support with live chat	– Fewer advanced automation tools than Loop or Appstle – Scale plan becomes expensive for high-volume stores – Customer portal design is functional but not highly polished

Recurpay works well for merchants who want a lightweight subscription setup with room to customize as they grow. We recommend it to smaller stores that value developer control or brands that want a flexible, low-commitment option before upgrading to a more advanced subscription platform.

7. Subi – Clean UI + loyalty features

Subi combines subscriptions with loyalty rewards, membership perks, and multi language support in one platform. Its strongest advantage is the built in loyalty points system that encourages repeat purchases.

Key features:

• Quick setup with auto-billing widget
• Customer portal for skips, pauses, and cancellations
• Membership tiers with flexible perks
• Prepaid subscriptions and discount rules
• Customizable subscription widget
• Loyalty points and rewards that drive repeat orders

Subi stands out for its loyalty features, offering more retention tools than Seal and a more affordable entry point than many premium loyalty-subscription combinations.

Subi: Subscriptions & Loyalty Pricing: Free plan available – Growth $19 monthlySubi $69 monthly – Subi Plus $299 monthly Reviews: 4.9 stars from 735 reviews	Pros	Cons
	– Loyalty points built directly into subscriptions – Supports memberships and digital products – Multi-language support for global stores	– Limited automation compared to Loop or Appstle – Higher tiers needed for advanced perks – Widget styling options feel basic

We view Subi as a smart choice for brands that want subscriptions tied closely to customer rewards. We recommend it for stores that rely on loyalty programs and membership based retention.

8. Bold Subscriptions – Deep customization for complex stores

Bold is a best subscription app for Shopify. It supports complex subscription logic with robust APIs and custom rule creation for highly specific workflows. Its highlight is the level of control it gives development heavy teams.

Key features:

• Revenue maximizers for stronger conversion
• Prepaid subscriptions and pay-as-you-go plans
• Advanced dunning and cancellation flow tools
• Customizable customer portal
• Seamless upgrade paths for stores on older Bold versions
• Powerful APIs for building custom subscription logic

Bold stands out for its customizability, offering deeper API control than Subi and more flexible subscription logic than Seal. This makes it ideal for stores with non-standard or complex subscription needs.

Bold Subscriptions App Pricing: Free plan available for 60 days Launch $24.99 monthly Grow $49.99 monthly Scale $74.99 monthly Reviews: 4.3 stars from 374 reviews	Pros	Cons
	– Strong API options for custom setups – Full control over complex subscription rules – Supports prepaid, hybrid, and flexible workflows	– Lower rating compared to competitors – Customer support feedback is inconsistent – Widget customization has limitations

Bold Subscriptions fits merchants with complex subscription models or stores already using other Bold tools. LitOS recommends Bold for brands that need API-level control or unique subscription flows that standard subscription apps cannot support.

9. Smartrr – Best branded customer portal

Smartrr focuses on giving subscribers a polished, branded portal with loyalty tools and detailed analytics on customer behaviour. The standout feature is its premium customer experience design.

Key features:

• Branded checkout and customer portal
• Automated subscription shipping controls
• Native loyalty rewards for subscribers
• Advanced analytics dashboard
• Upsell tools and one-time add-ons
• Support for prepaid subscriptions and memberships

Smartrr stands out for its polished user experience and strong retention features, giving it an advantage over Bold and Recurpay for DTC brands that rely heavily on repeat purchasers.

Smartrr Subscriptions App	Pros	Cons
Pricing:  Launch $99 monthly + 1% subscriber GMV Grow $299 monthly + 1% subscriber GMV Excel $499 monthly + 1 % subscriber GMV Reviews: 4.9 stars from 65 reviews	– Excellent branded customer portal and UX – Dedicated CSM and onboarding support – Strong analytics for retention and LTV	– Higher cost than most competitors – Best features locked to premium plans – Not ideal for very small stores

LitOS recommends Smartrr to DTC brands that prioritize loyalty, LTV optimization, and strong customer experience over budget-friendly pricing.

10. PayWhirl – Best flexible option for billing cycles and custom subscription setups

PayWhirl offers flexible billing cycles and hybrid subscription models while keeping the setup simple for merchants. Its strongest highlight is the ability to handle unusual or custom billing rules without heavy development.

Key feautures: 

• Full integration with Shopify Checkout
• Customizable billing cycles and templates
• Advanced analytics and churn tracking
• Automated retries for failed payments
• Free migration support from Recharge, Appstle, Bold, and others
• Cancellation prevention flows

PayWhirl stands out for its flexibility, making it more adaptable than Seal and less complex than Bold, especially for stores that rely on multiple billing structures or product-specific plans.

PayWhirl Subscription App	Pros	Cons
Pricing: Free plan available Pro $9 monthly + 2% transaction fee Traction $29 monthly + 1.5% transaction fee Scale $149 monthly + 0.75 % transaction fee Reviews: 4.8 stars from 175 reviews	– Highly flexible billing and subscription rules – Easy setup with drag-and-drop tools – US-based support team with strong merchant feedback	– Transaction fees apply on every plan – Customization requires time to configure – Fewer native loyalty tools compared to Subi or Smartrr

PayWhirl works well for stores that need tailored billing cycles, hybrid subscription models, or flexible prepaid options. LitOS recommends PayWhirl to merchants that want strong customization without moving to a heavier enterprise solution like Recharge or Bold.

11. Ongoing Subscriptions & Bundles – Best simple subscription app for fast setup

Ongoing is best subscription app for Shopify. It gives merchants a straightforward subscription setup with clean product widgets and easy build a box options. Its standout feature is the quick no code onboarding that suits small teams.

Key features:

• No-code subscription product creation
• Build-a-box and bundled subscription options
• Flexible discounts and offers
• Customer portal for skips, pauses, and order edits
• Subscription analytics and churn insights
• Recurring billing with automated retries

Ongoing stands out for its ease of use and fast setup. It offers a simpler experience than PayWhirl and a more intuitive build-a-box workflow for smaller teams compared to Loop or Appstle.

Ongoing Subscriptions Pricing: Pro %599 monthly + 1% transaction fee (with discounts) Reviews: 5.0 stars from 67 reviews	Pros	Cons
	– Extremely easy to use for non-technical merchants – Responsive, proactive support team – Clean customer portal with strong UX	– Only one high-priced plan – Lacks advanced automation tools – Not ideal for enterprise-scale subscription brands

We view Ongoing as a practical tool for merchants that want a simple subscription workflow. We recommend it for small businesses that prefer fast setup and minimal maintenance.

Each of these apps serves a different type of Shopify store, and understanding their strengths helps you find the right match. The summaries below reflect what we see most often in real merchant setups at LitOS.

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How to Integrate a Subscription App on Shopify 

As you got your best subscription app for Shopify, now let’s learn how to add it to your eCommerce store. Most Shopify subscription apps follow the same setup flow, and the entire process usually takes less than an hour. Below is a simple overview of what merchants typically do when setting things up for the first time.

Step 1. Install the subscription app (5-10 minutes)

Choose your app in our list above or from the Shopify App Store, install it, approve permissions, and access it directly inside your Shopify admin.

Step 2. Configure your subscription settings (15-30 minutes)

Set the basic rules for your subscription products, including delivery frequencies, discounts, and billing cycles. This is also where you adjust customer portal preferences, email notifications, and dunning or payment retry settings.

Step 3. Add the subscription widget to your products (10-15 minutes)

Most apps automatically place a subscription widget on your product pages. You only need to customize the design, choose which products support subscriptions, and set any subscription-specific pricing or discount rules.

Step 4. Connect the widget to your theme and test the flow

The app normally embeds through Shopify app blocks, so the widget appears without code. If you want a custom placement, you can adjust it in the theme editor. Run a full test order to confirm checkout works and the customer portal opens correctly.

Step 5. Migrate existing subscribers (if you’re switching apps)

Export your subscriber data from your old app, import it into the new one, and verify that renewal dates, statuses, and billing cycles are correct. It’s also good practice to notify your subscribers about the change.

Step 6. Connect your integrations

Link your email tools, analytics, loyalty programs, or CRM so your subscription data syncs properly across your stack.

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Best Practices for Running Subscriptions on Shopify

A subscription program works best when it gives customers real value, clear control, and a smooth experience from the first order to the latest renewal. The practices below reflect what consistently improves retention, average order value, and customer satisfaction across Shopify stores.

1. Offer Subscribe and Save with clear benefits

Customers commit more confidently when the value is easy to understand. A simple Subscribe and Save offer with a clear percentage discount works better than complicated reward structures. Highlight the benefit close to the price, and reinforce additional perks such as convenience or free shipping to make the offer feel exclusive and worthwhile.

2. Use flexible delivery frequencies

A one size delivery schedule rarely fits all customers. Offering several delivery intervals allows shoppers to match subscriptions to their actual usage. Stores that provide at least three frequency options often see lower churn because customers do not feel locked into a schedule that does not match their buying habits.

3. Make cancellation, pause, and skip options transparent

A subscription performs better when customers feel they remain in control. Clear options to pause, skip, or cancel increase trust and reduce frustration. Many merchants notice that transparent management options lead to higher retention because customers stay longer when the experience feels fair and easy to manage.

4. Use build a box to increase average order value

Customers enjoy choosing what goes into their subscription box, and this freedom often increases cart size. Build a box subscriptions also reduce fatigue by keeping the experience fresh and personalized. Brands that offer customizable boxes usually achieve both higher order values and stronger subscriber loyalty.

5. Personalize communication with email flows

Timely communication helps subscribers feel informed and respected. Renewal reminders reduce unexpected charges, upcoming order alerts help prevent cancellations, and winback messages bring back paused subscribers. Stores that connect their subscription app with Klaviyo often see stronger retention because messages can be tailored to customer behavior.

6. Optimize the placement of the subscription widget

Visibility shapes conversion. A subscription widget performs best when it sits directly under the product price and above the Add to Cart button. A second prompt inside the cart gently reinforces the offer and captures customers who may have missed it earlier. Good placement helps the subscription feel like a natural part of the buying path.

These practices help create a subscription experience that feels valuable, trustworthy, and easy for customers. A well structured program often leads to stronger retention, higher average order value, and a more predictable revenue stream for your store.

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Best Subscription App for Shopify: FAQs

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Final Thoughts

A strong subscription setup gives your customers a simple way to stay connected with your brand and creates a consistent revenue stream for your store. The right app depends on your product catalog, customer experience goals, and how much flexibility you need as your business grows. A good subscription program feels easy for subscribers, reliable for your team, and scalable for future expansion.