Best Subscription Apps for Shopify in 2026

Running a Shopify store means always on the lookout for new ways to boost revenue and make customer experiences even better.

If you sell products that people use regularly – be it coffee, skincare or supplements – subscriptions can be a total game changer.

The right subscription app does more than just sell more – it helps build loyalty, keeps customers from churning and gives you a predictable monthly income to count on.

Over the years, I’ve worked with dozens of Shopify merchants who wanted to add a subscription option to their store. And here’s what I’ve learned: not every subscription app is created equal.

Some are super flexible and easy to customize. Others are stuck on rigid templates or clunky checkout flows that just don’t cut it.

The best subscription apps for Shopify give you total control over the customer experience, play well with your existing tools, and help you boost retention without adding complexity.

Let’s go through the top subscription apps I recommend – and what makes each one stand out.

Comparison Table: Top Shopify Subscription Apps

Why Subscription Apps Matter on Shopify

Subscriptions are one of the most powerful tools available to ecommerce brands. But many store owners just don’t use them to their full potential – or they end up stuck with an app that doesn’t actually meet their needs.

Here’s what a good subscription setup can do for your store:

• Boost average order value (AOV) with pre-paid bundles
• Lock in recurring revenue for better cash flow
• Increase customer lifetime value (LTV)
• Reduce acquisition costs by increasing repeat purchases
• Give customers the flexibility to manage their own deliveries

A well-designed subscription flow gives the customer more control while keeping your brand front and center. The goal is to make the experience as smooth and customizable as possible.

What to Look for in a Subscription App

Before diving into the list, it’s worth thinking about what actually matters when choosing a subscription app for your Shopify store.

A lot of brands just install whatever is trendy without thinking it through.

Here are the key features I look for:

• Native Shopify Checkout Integration. Let’s be honest: apps that use Shopify’s native checkout are always a winner. They ensure smoother transactions, better analytics, and easier payment management.
• Customizable Subscription Options.You should be able to offer weekly, monthly, quarterly, or even custom frequency options. And letting customers skip, pause or swap products is a must-have.
• Branding Control. Truth is your subscription widget needs to match your store’s design or it will break trust. You want an app that lets you customize all the styles, colors & where it sits.
• Integration with Other Tools. A good app should be able to connect with Klaviyo, Gorgias, Zapier & any other tools you’re already using.
• Analytics and Reporting. You need data on churn, retention & LTV to keep on improving your subscription program.
• Customer Portal. Customers need to be able to manage their subscriptions easily, without bothering your support team.

Here’s a quick table to give you an idea of which features are most important depending on your store’s size & goals:

1. Recharge

Recharge is probably the oldest and most trusted subscription app in the Shopify ecosystem. It powers subscriptions for big brands like Huel & OLIPOP – and for good reason.

It’s very highly customizable and works a dream with mid-size to enterprise-level stores.

Key Features:

• Native Shopify checkout support, no problem to set up
• Dunning management (auto-recover failed payments)
• Customer portal is fully customizable – customers can easily manage their subscriptions
• Support for build-a-box subscriptions – super popular with customers
• Integrates with Klaviyo, Gorgias & loads of other tools
• Enterprise-level API & analytics access – for the big guns

Pros:

• Absolutely ideal for stores with complex subscription models
• Rock solid & scalable for larger businesses
• Clean user interface for customers – love it

Cons:

• Can be overkill (and expensive) for small stores – not worth it
• Needs developer help if you want to get deep in there & customize it properly

Pricing:

Recharge basically has two pricing tiers:

Standard Plan: $99/month + 1% of subscription revenue

• This gets you native Shopify checkout, analytics & access to most core features.
• Good for mid-size stores looking to scale up

Pro Plan: Custom pricing (usually starts around $300/month)

Recharge doesn’t take a cut of non-subscription revenue and there are no setup fees – just transaction fees on subscription sales.

Recharge is a solid choice if you’re already scaling fast or expect to grow fast. But if you’re just starting out, or want something easier to use, there are better options for beginners.

2. Loop Subscriptions

Loop Subscriptions is a newer player on the block, but quickly gaining traction.

It’s designed specifically for DTC brands that want a seamless, customizable experience without enterprise-level pricing. I’m a big fan of Loop, it’s a great balance of flexibility & ease of use.

Key Features:

• Super integrated with Shopify checkout – no problems
• Churn reduction tools like skip, pause & swap
• Advanced retention analytics – helps you keep customers
• Headless support for developers & APIs
• Great support for bundle subscriptions & prepaid options

Pros:

• Really clean & modern design – easy to style
• Customer portal is super intuitive – customers will love it
• Loads of onboarding & support – so easy to get started

Cons:

• Still a relatively new platform – fewer third-party integrations
• Analytics could be deeper at the free level

Pricing:

• Free Plan: $0/month for stores doing under $100/month in subscription revenue
• Starter Plan: $49/month + 1% of subscription revenue. Adds analytics, better customer portal tools & some retention features
• Growth Plan: $149/month + 1% of subscription revenue

Loop gives you loads of room to grow without breaking the bank – which is why it’s such a great option for new or growing stores.

If you want something that’s easy to use but still gives you room to grow, Loop is one of the best options around right now.

3. Skio

Skio is built specifically for high-growth DTC brands and focuses on reducing friction and churn. One of the standout features is passwordless login, makes it way easier for customers to manage their accounts.

Key Features:

• Passwordless login (no more “forgot password” problems)
• Instant subscription migration from other platforms (so easy)
• Native Shopify checkout support (no issues)
• Built-in analytics dashboard (gives you the data you need)
• Headless support for developers (if you need it)

Pros:

• Super fast user experience
• Clean modern interface customers love
• Works a dream for brands doing influencer/growth marketing

Cons:

• Needs bespoke dev work for full styling to come out of the box
• Not ideal for newbies or small brands with tighter budgets

Pricing

Custom Pricing Only
Skio doesn’t list pricing publicly, but most brands can expect to pay:

• Base Plan: Around $299/month. Includes passwordless login, fraud protection, Shopify checkout integration, and migration tools. No transaction fees on top of the monthly cost.
• Enterprise Plan: Pricing varies based on volume and needs

Skio is best suited for brands doing $500k+ per year and want to ditch third-party portals in favour of a slick subscription experience.

4. Smartrr

Smartrr is a go-to for creating premium customer experiences. It really shines when it comes to UX/UI design and works particularly well for lifestyle, wellness, and beauty brands.

Key Features:

• Multiple subscription types (basic, build-a-box, prepaid)
• Gifting and loyalty integrations on tap
• Custom-styled customer portals for a seamless look
• Advanced retention features to keep customers coming back

Pros:

• Looks great and is super easy to customise
• Built with retention and personalisation top of mind
• Easy peasy integration with Shopify themes

Cons:

• Not as many built-in analytics tools as some competitors
• Some limitations in product bundling flexibility

Pricing

• Essential Plan: $99/month (plus 1% of subscription revenue). Includes multiple subscription types, customer portal, analytics, and styling tools.
• Plus Plan: $299/month (plus 1% of subscription revenue). Adds loyalty, gifting, tiered subscriptions, and more integrations.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing as you need. Includes dedicated CSM, priority support, and advanced features.

No extra fees to worry about outside of Shopify payment processing.

If design and customer experience are a top priority for your brand, Smartrr is definitely worth considering.

5. Bold Subscriptions

Bold used to be the go-to subscription app on Shopify before native checkout integration became a standard. While still functional, it’s not as flexible or modern as newer apps like Loop or Skio.

Key Features:

• Subscription templates and pre-built flows to get you up and running
• Basic churn tools (pause, skip, cancel) to help keep customers
• Integration with Shopify and Shopify Plus for seamless operation
• Works great for non-physical subscriptions too

Pros:

• Stable and reliable
• Broad use cases beyond just physical products

Cons:

• Older UI and customer experience
• Not built on Shopify’s native checkout (like newer apps)

Pricing:

Core Plan: $49.99/month:

• No percentage of subscription revenue taken.
• Comes with Shopify checkout integration, basic churn tools, and templates.

No free trials or plans to worry about, but Bold’s flat rate makes it easy to budget for.

I only recommend Bold if you’re already using their ecosystem or need support for digital subscriptions and memberships.

6. PayWhirl

PayWhirl is a strong contender for merchants looking for flexibility without enterprise pricing. It works a treat for both digital and physical products and supports complex billing models.

Key Features:

• Recurring billing with Shopify checkout
• Full branding control so you can customise to your hearts content
• Works for physical, digital, or service-based subscriptions
• Free plan available for testing and getting a feel for the app

Pros:

• Developer friendly
• Pricing is transparent and fair
• Works across multiple product categories

Cons:

• A slight learning curve to get setup
• Fewer built-in churn tools than other apps

Pricing:

• Free Plan: $0/month + 3% transaction fee – includes core subscription features, native checkout integration, and customer portal access.
• Starter: $9/month + 3% fee – unlocks more customization, access to embeddable widgets, and basic reporting.
• Business: $49/month + 2% fee – adds API access, advanced email notifications, and full customer portal customization.
• Pro: $149/month + 1% fee – includes priority support, multi-user access, advanced reporting, and deeper integrations.
• Enterprise: $249/month + 0.5% fee – provides SLA-backed support, dedicated account manager, and custom API limits for high-volume stores.

PayWhirl is perfect for merchants who want low monthly fees and are okay with a small percentage of transaction fees until they grow.

Great choice if you’re tech-savvy and want something flexible to work within a budget.

Other Noteworthy Apps

While the apps above are my top recommendations, there are a few other platforms worth looking at depending on your use case:

• Subify – Great for small stores and newbies
• AAA Subscription App – Works well for basic digital memberships
• Native Subscriptions – Built right into Shopify checkout with easy setup
• Upscribe – Tailored towards brands migrating from Recharge
• Seal Subscriptions – Good low-cost option with essential features## Choosing the Right App for Your Shopify Store

Every Shopify store is unique – and the right app for yours will boil down to your product type, how big your store is, what it looks like and how hands-on you want to be.

When I’m helping people figure this out I like to break it down into a few main areas:

New to the Game:

• For most people, the easy best bets are Loop, Subify, or Seal
• At this stage its usually best to stick with apps that just sort of work out the box and don’t need a ton of techy tweaking
• Save the fancy enterprise tools for when you know you’re really taking off

Growing Fast:

• If you’re starting to get busy, look at Recharge, Skio, or Smartrr
• At this stage its all about retention – trying to keep your customers happy, seeing what they want, and making sure they stick around
• You’ll also want to start thinking about integrations and how you can plug all the different apps together to make your life easier

Sell Digital Stuff:

• If you’re selling digital products then you’re going to want to have a look at PayWhirl or Bold
• Make sure the app can handle things like digital billing cycles and products that aren’t physical

The Bottom Line

Adding subscription to your Shopify store isn’t just about locking people in – its about building a relationship with them and making sure they come back.

And at the end of the day, the app you choose will all depend on your unique situation.

I’ve got three that I always like to recommend:

• Recharge is great for when things get really big and complicated
• Loop Subscriptions is good for people who need a bit of flexibility but still want things to be pretty straightforward
• Smartrr is ideal for people who are really focused on style and the overall look of their store

Whatever you choose, just make sure it works with the rest of your tech, lets you put your branding front and centre, and doesn’t make things harder for you or your customers.