What Features Should You Look for in a Shopify Subscription App?

Subscriber-based products/services are becoming increasingly popular, and Shopify merchants are adopting subscription apps to boost their store's recurring revenue. Surprisingly, not every subscription application is the same. With over 60 apps in the Subscription category in the Shopify app store, identifying the right Shopify subscriptions application is critical. Let's look at a few aspects that every Shopify merchant should consider when selecting a subscription app for their online store.

1. Seamless Shopify Integration

Your subscription app should integrate natively with Shopify, allowing you to manage subscriptions directly from your Shopify dashboard. Look for apps that are Built for Shopify and work effortlessly with Shopify Payments and checkout.

2. Flexible Subscription Plans

A good subscription app should offer flexibility in creating different types of subscription models, including:

• Pay-as-you-go subscriptions
• Prepaid subscriptions
• Mixed one-time and recurring purchases
• Custom billing cycles (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually)

3. Automated Billing and Recurring Payments.

The application should support both automated billing and recurring payments, be easily manageable from both the admin and customer ends, and support multiple payment processors such as Shopify Payments, Stripe, and PayPal. This will streamline the payment process and enhance the customer experience.

4. Customer Self-Management

Empowering customers to manage their subscriptions improves retention. Look for features such as:

• Ability to pause, skip, or cancel subscriptions
• Updating payment methods
• Changing delivery schedules

5. Dunning Management & Failed Payment Handling

A strong dunning management system helps recover lost revenue due to failed payments. Features like automated payment retries, email notifications, and card update prompts can minimize subscription churn.

6. Discounts & Promotions

Offering discounts and promotions can boost subscription sign-ups. The app should allow you to create:

• Discount codes for new subscribers
• Percentage-based or fixed-price discounts
• Free trials for first-time users

7. Subscription Analytics & Reports

Comprehensive analytics help track subscription performance. Look for features like:

• Revenue tracking
• Churn rate analysis
• Customer lifetime value (CLV) reports
• Subscription growth trends

8. Customizable Subscription Widgets & Checkout

A great subscription app provides customizable widgets and a seamless checkout experience. Ensure the app allows you to:

• Customize subscription widgets to match your brand
• Offer a one-page checkout for faster conversions
• Optimize the user experience for mobile and desktop

9. Email & SMS Notifications

Keeping customers informed enhances the subscription experience. Your app should support automated email and SMS notifications for:

• Order confirmations
• Upcoming billing reminders
• Payment failures
• Subscription renewals

10. Integration with Other Shopify Apps

Ensure the subscription app can integrate with key third-party apps such as:

• Loyalty and rewards apps (e.g., LoyaltyLion, Marsello, Influence)
• Email marketing platforms (e.g., Klaviyo, Omnisend, Mailchimp)
• Customer support tools (e.g., DelightChat, Gorgias)

11. 0% Transaction Fees & Transparent Pricing

Avoid apps that charge high transaction fees. Choose a subscription app that offers a free plan, a 30-day free trial, and minimal or no transaction fees to maximize your profits.

12. Scalability & Growth Support

If you plan to scale your business, choose an app that can handle high order volumes, support multiple subscription tiers, and provide enterprise-level features.

Conclusion

Finding the best Subscriptions app can play an important role in increasing your Shopify store's recurring revenue. The app should offer seamless integrations with other third-party services, flexible subscription options, automated emails for admin and customer based on subscription access, automated billing notifications, a user-friendly customer management portal, and advanced analytics.

Utterbond Subscriptions is a top choice that provides all these features. It comes with a free plan, a 30-day free trial on any paid plan, and 0% transaction fees, ensuring you keep all your revenue. Live chat option, slack support helps you to the round-a-clock support whenever you need it. This allows you to scale your subscription business effortlessly.

Don't miss out! Try the best Shopify subscription app today and boost your recurring revenue.