Recharge is the best subscription management software for most ecommerce brands in 2026. Appstle Subscriptions is the best budget pick, with a free plan and paid plans from $10 a month with no transaction fee.
The other picks fit specific stages. Loop Subscriptions suits growing Shopify brands that want strong retention tools. Skio and Stay AI target high-volume brands with bigger budgets. WooCommerce Subscriptions is the natural choice if your store runs on WordPress.
Look past the monthly fee before you choose. Most of these apps also take a percentage of every subscription order, and at scale that fee can cost far more than the plan itself.
Our top pick
Recharge
The most proven way to launch and scale subscriptions on Shopify.
Quick picks
Best overall
Best for growing Shopify brands
Best on a budget
Best for high-volume brands
Best for WooCommerce
How we ranked these tools
We scored each app on five criteria: fit for recurring ecommerce orders, depth of subscription and retention features, pricing and value (including transaction fees), ease of use for subscribers and staff, and support. We based the scores on vendor documentation, published pricing and app store listings, and public user reviews. We did not accept payment for placement. Prices reflect published rates as of October 2026, so confirm the current price with the vendor.
The 6 best subscription management apps for online stores
1. Recharge
Best for most Shopify subscription brands
Our rating4.7 / 5
Starting price$25 / month
Free planFree trial (60 days)
Recharge is the most established subscription app on Shopify, and it now also owns Skio. Its Shopify App Store listing shows an entry plan at $25 a month with no transaction fees for your first 50 subscribers. Starter costs $99 a month plus 1.49% and 19 cents per transaction, and Plus costs $499 a month at 1.34% and 19 cents. Every plan comes with a 60-day free trial. The per-order fee is the real cost once you scale.
Pros
- Low-cost plan for brands just starting subscriptions
- Long 60-day free trial
- Large network of integrations and agencies
Cons
- Transaction fees add up at volume
- Advanced features sit on higher plans
- Fee after your first 50 subscribers is not listed
Key features
- Subscriber self-service portal
- Bundles and build-a-box
- Cancellation flows
- Retention analytics
2. Loop Subscriptions
Best for growing Shopify brands focused on retention
Our rating4.6 / 5
Starting price$99 / month
Free planYes
Loop Subscriptions is a Shopify subscription app that puts most of its effort into keeping subscribers active. It offers a free plan, and paid plans start with Starter at $99 a month plus a 1% transaction fee. Pro costs $399 a month with a 0.75% fee. Both paid plans include a 14-day free trial. Loop fits brands that already have subscribers and want to cut churn, though the jump from free to $99 is steep for a new store.
Pros
- Free plan to start
- Lower transaction fee than Recharge’s paid plans
- Strong churn reduction tools
Cons
- Big jump from free to $99 a month
- Shopify only
- Fee still applies on every order
Key features
- Cancellation flows with offers
- Subscriber portal
- Bundles
- Failed payment recovery
3. Appstle Subscriptions
Best for small stores on a budget
Our rating4.5 / 5
Starting price$10 / month
Free planYes (up to $500 / month in subscriptions)
Appstle Subscriptions prices by subscription revenue instead of taking a cut of each order. The free plan covers up to $500 a month in subscriptions. Starter costs $10 a month for up to $5,000, Business costs $30 for up to $15,000, and Business Premium costs $100 for up to $100,000, all with a 0% transaction fee and a 14-day trial. Annual billing saves 20%. It is the cheapest way to run subscriptions on Shopify, though its tools are less polished than Recharge or Loop.
Pros
- No transaction fee on paid plans
- Free plan for very small programs
- Low flat prices by revenue tier
Cons
- Less polished than premium rivals
- Revenue caps push you up tiers
- Shopify only
Key features
- Subscribe-and-save widgets
- Customer portal
- Build-a-box
- Dunning management
4. Skio
Best for high-volume brands that want a premium setup
Our rating4.4 / 5
Starting price$599 / month
Free planNo
Skio, now a Recharge company, is a premium Shopify subscription app built for brands that already run large subscription programs. Its App Store listing shows one Scale plan at $599 a month, or $5,988 a year billed annually, plus 1% and 20 cents per transaction. It focuses on subscriber experience, including passwordless login and text-based subscription management. The price makes it a poor fit for a store with only a few hundred subscribers.
Pros
- Built for large subscription programs
- Passwordless subscriber login
- Annual billing saves about 17%
Cons
- $599 a month before transaction fees
- No free plan or listed trial
- Overkill for small stores
Key features
- Text-based subscription management
- Migration support
- Cancellation flows
- Subscriber analytics
5. Stay AI
Best for brands that want AI-driven retention
Our rating4.3 / 5
Starting price$499 / month
Free planFree trial (30 days)
Stay AI is a Shopify subscription platform that uses AI to time offers and save subscribers who are about to cancel. Its App Store listing shows a single Monthly Plan at $499 a month plus 1% and 19 cents per transaction, with a 30-day free trial. It targets established DTC brands with steady repeat orders that want to push lifetime value higher. Smaller stores will find the base price hard to justify.
Pros
- AI-driven retention offers
- 30-day free trial
- Clear single-plan pricing
Cons
- $499 base fee
- Transaction fee on top
- Shopify only
Key features
- Predictive churn prevention
- Subscriber portal
- Personalized save offers
- Retention reporting
6. WooCommerce Subscriptions
Best for WooCommerce stores
Our rating4.2 / 5
Starting price$279 / year
Free planNo (30-day money-back guarantee)
WooCommerce Subscriptions is the official subscription extension from Woo for stores built on WordPress. It costs $279 for a one-year plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and there is no per-order fee from the extension itself. It handles weekly, monthly, or annual billing, free trials, sign-up fees, and automatic renewals through more than 25 payment gateways. You manage hosting, updates, and troubleshooting yourself, so plan for developer help. Your payment gateway still charges its usual fees.
Pros
- No transaction fee from the extension
- Flat annual price
- Works with 25+ payment gateways
Cons
- You handle hosting and updates
- Less polished subscriber portal
- Setup often needs a developer
Key features
- Flexible billing schedules
- Failed payment retries
- Renewal date syncing
- Subscription gifting
Compare the top subscription management apps
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recharge | Most Shopify subscription brands | $25 / month | Free trial (60 days) | 4.7 |
| Loop Subscriptions | Growing Shopify brands focused on retention | $99 / month | Yes | 4.6 |
| Appstle Subscriptions | Small stores on a budget | $10 / month | Yes (up to $500 / month in subscriptions) | 4.5 |
| Skio | High-volume brands that want a premium setup | $599 / month | No | 4.4 |
| Stay AI | Brands that want AI-driven retention | $499 / month | Free trial (30 days) | 4.3 |
| WooCommerce Subscriptions | WooCommerce stores | $279 / year | No (30-day money-back guarantee) | 4.2 |
How to choose subscription management software
Model the transaction fee at your volume
Multiply your monthly subscription revenue by each app’s percentage fee, add the per-order cents, then add the plan price. At $50,000 a month in renewals, a 1% fee alone is $500. Flat-fee tools like Appstle can win by a wide margin at that size.
Match the app to your platform
Recharge, Loop, Appstle, Skio, and Stay AI are built for Shopify. WooCommerce stores should start with WooCommerce Subscriptions. If you sell on another platform, confirm native support before you book a demo.
Test the subscriber portal yourself
Most churn happens when a customer cannot easily skip, swap, or pause. Sign up as a test subscriber during the free trial and try each action on your phone. If it takes more than a few taps, your customers will cancel instead.
Plan the migration before you switch
Moving active subscribers between apps means moving payment methods and renewal dates without double charges. Ask each vendor whether migration is included, how long it takes, and who handles payment token transfers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best subscription app for Shopify?
Recharge is the best subscription app for most Shopify brands, thanks to its low-cost entry plan, 60-day trial, and wide integration network. Appstle is the best low-cost option, and Loop is a strong pick for brands focused on reducing churn.
How much does subscription management software cost?
Published prices range from a free plan to about $600 a month. Appstle starts at $10 a month, Recharge at $25, Loop at $99, Stay AI at $499, and Skio at $599. Most Shopify apps also charge a transaction fee of about 0.75% to 1.49% per order.
Can you run subscriptions without a transaction fee?
Yes. Appstle’s paid plans charge a 0% transaction fee and price by subscription revenue tier instead. WooCommerce Subscriptions charges a flat annual price with no per-order fee from the extension, though your payment gateway still charges its normal processing fees.
Do you need a subscription app if your store already has recurring payments?
Usually yes. Basic recurring payments only charge a card on a schedule. A subscription app adds a customer portal to skip, swap, and pause orders, cancellation offers, failed payment recovery, and reporting, which are the features that keep subscribers longer.
Keep reading
Buyer’s guide
How to Choose Subscription Management Software in 2026
How to pick a subscription app by platform fit, subscription model, fees at your volume, retention tools, integrations and migration risk.
Comparison
Recharge vs Loop Subscriptions: Which Is Better in 2026?
Recharge suits most Shopify brands launching or scaling subscriptions, while Loop suits growing brands focused on cutting churn at a lower transaction fee.
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