Subscription based ecommerce isn’t just a trend anymore – it’s a battle tested business model for making a real and lasting impression on customer lifetime value, keeping customers on board for the long haul, and bringing in steady revenue.
Shopify has been quick to respond to this shift by upgrading its native checkout options for subscription models, but it still depends on third party apps to take things to the next level.
And with that many apps out there in the Shopify ecosystem, the question is: which one is really right for your store?
We put in the time, testing out the top apps with real client stores, and digging into the nitty gritty of pricing, features and performance.
Here are the top subscription apps for Shopify heading into 2026.
Quick Comparison Table
| App | Best For | Starting Price | Transaction Fee | Free Plan? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recharge | Scaling and enterprise brands | $99/month | 1.25% + $0.19 | Yes |
| Skio | DTC brands and retention | $399/month | Custom | No |
| Loop Subscriptions | Automation + value | $99/month | 1% | Yes |
| Appstle | Beginners + low cost | $10/month | 0.5%–1.5% | Yes |
| Bold Subscriptions | Custom workflows | $49.99/month | None | No |
| PayWhirl | Simple recurring payments | $9/month | 3% | Yes |
#1. Recharge – The Top Pick for Scaling Brands
Rating: 4.8/5
Recharge has been the go to solution for Shopify stores offering subscriptions since the early days of DTC ecommerce.
Brands like OLIPOP, Huel and Blume rely on it for its ruggedness, flexibility and ease of use for developers. Its ideal for fast growing companies that need robust analytics, churn control and the ability to support advanced subscription models.
The Low Down On Pricing:
Recharge offers a few different pricing tiers depending on your store’s size and what you need:
- The Standard Plan – starts at $99/month and includes most of the core features like analytics, subscription management, customer portal and access to the API
- The Pro Plan – custom pricing (usually $300-$800/month) for larger brands that need priority support, custom solutions and dedicated success managers
- The Free Tier – available for stores doing less than $100k in annual subscription revenue. It’s a good option if you just want to get started and see how things go
Feature Highlights:
- Super seamless integration with Shopify Checkout (Shopify Plus only)
- Subsription workflows that let customers swap products, skip payments or pause their subs
- Intelligent dunning and failed payment recovery
- One off purchases plus subscription mixing in the cart
- Recharge API for advanced setups and headless builds
And let’s not forget the analytics – Recharge is loaded with all sorts of tools to help you measure MRR, LTV, churn rate, retention cohorts and a whole lot more.
It’s built for scale but still works for mid-size businesses that are looking to grow big time.
Why We Love Recharge:
- Great tools for high-growth stores that want to scale big time
- Super powerful retention and churn analytics
- Extensive integrations with apps like Klaviyo, Gorgias, Postscript
- Super flexible and powerful API
And Why We Don’t Love it So Much:
- Requires Shopify Plus to use Shopify Checkout
- Complex for new store owners that aren’t tech-savvy
- Higher base price and transaction fees
The Bottom Line:
Recharge is the top choice for businesses that want to scale their subscriptions. If you’re already processing a ton of volume and want analytics and automation that can keep up with your growth, then this is the way to go.
#2. Skio – The Best for Customer Experience
Rating: 4.7/5
Skio really stands out by focusing on the customer experience – which is something that a lot of other platforms tend to overlook.
It’s used by leading DTC brands like Muddy Bites, Jolie and Obvi to reduce churn and boost conversion rates – especially after the purchase and during subscription management.
The Low Down On Pricing:
Skio is priced a bit higher for brands that are already seeing some traction:
- Flat Rate Pricing starts at $399/month
- No visible transaction fee, but some enterprise level plans are custom quoted
- No free plan available
But while it’s a bit pricey upfront, Skio makes up for it by eliminating login friction through its passwordless access, supporting deep integrations with Shopify Checkout and providing subscriber cohort analytics that a lot of competitors just don’t offer.
Feature Highlights:
- Super simple, passwordless login for customers – this reduces customer support tickets and makes it a whole lot easier for customers to manage their subs
- Native support for prepaid subs, gifting and trials – this is a big deal for businesses that need to offer these kinds of options to their customers
- Auto generated Shopify metafields for tracking – these make it super easy to track customer behavior and make data driven decisions
- Fast, mobile-first subscriber portal – this is what really sets Skio apart – its a super slick and easy to use portal that actually encourages customers to manage their subscriptions on their own
- Skio Cohorts tool – this lets you visualize churn behavior over time and make data driven decisions to improve customer retention
And what really gets Skio going is the Subscriber Portal – its a total game changer for customer experience and retention.
It makes it super easy for customers to manage their subscriptions, reducing pressure on customer support and improving retention – especially for non-tech customers.
Why We Love Skio:
- Best in class user experience for customers
- Retention-focused features that actually work
- Fast, modern design with a mobile-first mindset, built to give users an intuitive experience right from the getup.
- They’ve cut down on login frustration with magic links – a definite win for user experience.
Cons:
- Starting prices are pretty steep.
- The app is pretty inflexible when it comes to DIY customization – unless you have the dev resources to make it work.
- There’s no free plan or trial to speak of.
The Verdict: if you’re worried about high churn and want to improve user experience, Skio will deliver. It’s more expensive than some of the other apps out there, but the payoff in terms of retention can make it well worth the investment for medium-sized DTC brands.
#3. Loop Subscriptions – A Great Value from a Top-Rated App
Rating: 4.6/5
Loop Subscriptions manages to strike the perfect balance of affordability, features and usability. Over 3,000 merchants already trust them and the app is really taking off – a testament to its automated flows, excellent churn reduction tools and clean customer portals.
How Much Does Loop Cost?
Their pricing is actually pretty flexible to support stores at different revenue levels:
- Free Starter Plan – ideal for stores making up to $200/month in subscription revenue
- Growth Plan – $99/month + 1% of subscription revenue
- Enterprise Plans – custom pricing for the big boys with lots of customization needs
So Why Choose Loop?
It’s because they’ve designed the app to scale with you – you can start with the free plan and only upgrade when you need to. Plus, the 1% revenue share is capped based on volume, so it doesn’t get out of control as you grow.
Key Features That Make Loop Shine:
- Drag-and-drop editor to customize your subscriber portal
- Advanced AI-powered churn prediction
- Support for prepaid plans, gifting and trial offers
- Integrations with Klaviyo, Gorgias and Postscript
- Built-in workflows for win-back and upgrade campaigns
Loop is a great fit for brands that want a Recharge-level feature set without the hefty price tag, especially if you’re making under $500K/year in subscription revenue.
Pros:
- Excellent value for the feature set on offer
- Super user-friendly portal design and admin dashboard
- Smarts when it comes to churn reduction
- Great support when you need it
Cons:
- Limited design options unless you’re comfortable using custom CSS
- The revenue-based pricing model can be a downside for high-volume stores
The Verdict: if you’re looking for deep features at a lower cost, Loop is the app for the job. Ideal for brands making in the $10k–$100k/month revenue range who want to grow without getting bogged down in complexity.
#4. Appstle – A Top Pick for New and Budget-Conscious Stores
Rating: 4.5/5
Appstle is often my go-to recommendation for new Shopify stores looking to test subscriptions out.
It’s an absolute steal – offering a feature set that blows away apps that cost way more, which explains why it’s one of the most popular tools among bootstrapped DTC founders and niche sellers.
Pricing Breakdown:
Appstle has got to be one of the clearest and most affordable pricing plans out there:
- Free Plan – up to 100 subscriptions/month
- Starter – $10/month + 1.5% transaction fee
- Business – $30/month + 0.75% fee (up to 2,500 subs)
- Premium – $100/month + 0.5% fee (up to 10,000 subs)
All their plans give you access to the core features, and the fees reduce as you scale up – perfect for testing without a long-term commitment.
What You’ll Love About Appstle:
- Build-a-box subscriptions and product bundles
- Prepaid, trial and gifting support
- Powerful email workflows and dunning automation
- Custom widget builder
- Integrations with Zapier, Klaviyo and Gorgias
Appstle makes it super easy to get started even if you have no coding skills. The admin panel is super intuitive and there are heaps of walkthroughs and guides to help you get up and running in no time.
Pros:
- It’s super cheap.
- Still packs an amazing punch on the free plan
- Great for small and growing businesses
- Quick to install and configure
Cons:
- Support response time can vary
- The UI could do with a bit of polishing
- Not ideal for enterprise setups
The Verdict: Appstle is ideal for merchants new to subscriptions or those bootstrapping – it gives you flexibility, support for bundles and churn reduction all at a super low cost.
#5. Bold Subscriptions – Built for the Big Stores
Rating: 4.3/5
Bold Subscriptions has been around for ages in the Shopify app ecosystem. While it’s interface might look a bit dated, it’s still a solid option for bigger stores that need super complex subscription logic or some seriously customized setups.
Pricing Breakdown:
- Single Plan – $49.99/month with no transaction fees
- They’ve got a free trial available
Unlike other apps that charge you a percentage of your sales, Bold’s flat rate model is a real game-changer for stores that do high volume. It’s especially suited for merchants that have their own developers or are working with agencies.
Feature Highlights:
- Subscription groups, intervals, and custom rules – the whole shebang
- Full control over every stage of the subscription lifecycle – no surprises
- APIs for those who want to take headless commerce to the next level
- Compatible with Shopify Checkout, no problem
- Your customers get a self-service portal to manage their own subscriptions
Bold also offers some exclusive features for managing logistics, like tracking your inventory for subscription orders and integration with ERP systems for bigger operations.
Pros:
- Great for anyone with a custom or complex setup
- Flat pricing structure – no surprise fees
- Enterprise-level integration options – you’re in good company
- Flexible subscription frequency logic – you can set it up however you like
Cons:
- The UX and admin panel could use an update – its a bit outdated
- It does take a bit more setup time and testing – be prepared to put some elbow grease in
- Not as innovative as some of the newer platforms out there
Bottom Line: If your store has a one-of-a-kind subscription workflow or needs a level of customization that’s hard to find elsewhere, Bold will give you the room to build something special. Its best for brands with their own developers or working with agencies.
#6. PayWhirl – For Brands Who Just Want to Get Going
Rating: 4.1/5
PayWhirl is a simple yet effective app for recurring payments. It’s perfect for solo operators, digital products, memberships or anyone who just wants to get their subscription service up and running with minimal fuss.
Pricing Breakdown:
- Free Plan: You get the basics with PayWhirl branding slapped on
- Pro Plan: $9/month + 3% fee – not the cheapest, but it gets the job done
- Business Plan: $49/month + 2% fee – a bit more oomph
- Advanced Plan: $149/month + 1% fee – you’re a big shot now
The fee structure is a bit higher than most competitors at the lower tiers, but the ease of use makes up for that for many of our users. Plans scale as you grow, with features unlocking at each level.
Feature Highlights:
- Recurring payments with flexible billing intervals – easy peasy
- Creating subscriptions from your existing products – no sweat
- Invoices, payment reminders and email automation all come as standard
- A quick-start customer portal to get them up and running
- Embedded widgets for landing pages – look sharp
PayWhirl is ideal for small businesses that don’t need all the bells and whistles like churn prediction or product bundles. It’s a plug-and-play solution thats easy to launch and just works.
Pros:
- Low monthly cost to get started – no big upfront commitment
- Very, very beginner-friendly – no coding required
- Supports digital and service-based products – all the bases covered
- No developers required – just you and PayWhirl
Cons:
- High transaction fees at the entry levels – be aware
- Limited analytics and reporting – you might need a separate tool
- Not designed for fast-growing ecommerce brands – might get outgrown
Bottom Line: For smaller brands or side hustlers, PayWhirl provides just what they need to get started without overcomplicating things.
How To Choose the Right Shopify Subscription App
When choosing a subscription app, it all comes down to three things:
1. Your business stage
- Just kicking off? Give Appstle a go
- Scaling fast? Recharge or Loop might be the ticket
- Big on retention? Skio is the one to beat
2. The features you actually need
- Want product bundles? Appstle, Loop and Recharge can help
- Need churn tools? Skio and Recharge lead the way
3. Budget and fees
- Don’t forget to factor in transaction fees
- Some “cheap” apps take a % of your revenue – be aware of that
Final Thoughts: Which App is Right for You?
If you’re serious about scaling subscriptions on Shopify, Recharge is still the complete solution. For retention and user experience, Skio is the standout.
On a budget? Appstle or Loop deliver incredible value.
Each of these apps solves a different problem depending on where your store is today and where you want to take it.*
- Just starting out? You might want to start with AppStle
- Growth is happening fast and you’re not sure what to do next? Loop and Recharge are both worth taking a closer look at.
- Trying to get shoppers to come back to your store? Skio’s got some pretty cool tools to help with that.
- Your business has unique needs and you’re looking for a custom fit? Bold Subscriptions is a pretty good bet.
Take advantage of the free trials, give each of these apps a spin and make sure one of them actually mesh with the way your store runs.
