At Seventy Four Design, we know that recurring revenue is the holy grail for many eCommerce businesses. Subscriptions can turn one-time buyers into loyal, repeat customers—giving your brand consistent income while building deeper relationships. If you’re running a Shopify store, choosing the right subscription app can make or break your strategy. To help you, we’ve rounded up some of the best Shopify subscription apps, highlighting their features, benefits, and the pros and cons of each.

1. Appstle Subscriptions

Features & Benefits:

• Build-a-box functionality and flexible billing.

• Bulk automation and a customer-friendly portal.

• Scales pricing with your subscription revenue.

Pros:

• Highly customizable.

• Affordable entry point (free until $500/month revenue).

• Excellent customer support.

Cons:

• May feel feature-heavy for smaller businesses.

• Some advanced features require higher pricing tiers.

2. Loop Subscriptions

Features & Benefits:

• Gamified experience and cancellation surveys.

• Customer self-service portal for skipping, pausing, or swapping products.

• Engaging subscription box tools.

Pros:

• User-friendly with a focus on customer retention.

• Free forever plan available for small volumes.

• Rich features to improve lifetime value.

Cons:

• Free plan capped at 50 subscriptions.

• Paid tiers start at a higher cost compared to some alternatives.

3. Seal Subscriptions & Loyalty

Features & Benefits:

• Combines subscription management with loyalty rewards.

• Custom rules, promotions, and alerts.

• Mobile-friendly subscription widgets.

Pros:

• Extremely affordable, starting at just a few dollars a month.

• Includes loyalty incentives to drive retention.

• No transaction fees on the free plan.

Cons:

• Interface isn’t as polished as premium competitors.

• Advanced analytics are limited.

4. Recharge Subscriptions

Features & Benefits:

• Enterprise-level recurring billing.

• Advanced integrations and analytics.

• Deep customization for complex businesses.

Pros:

• Reliable and widely trusted in the subscription space.

• Excellent for scaling businesses.

• Rich reporting tools.

Cons:

• Expensive (starting around $99/month).

• More complex setup process.

5. Bold Subscriptions

Features & Benefits:

• Flexible APIs and robust customization options.

• Tools to increase average order value (AOV).

• Integrates with other Bold apps.

Pros:

• Great for businesses needing deep customization.

• Proven provider with strong Shopify ecosystem ties.

Cons:

• Starting price around $49.99/month may be high for small businesses.

• Some features require technical expertise.

6. Skio

Features & Benefits:

• Intuitive, modern interface.

• Smooth migration from other subscription apps.

• Focus on ease of use and strong customer support.

Pros:

• Very user-friendly.

• High-rated support and onboarding experience.

Cons:

• Premium pricing model.

• Better suited for growing to enterprise businesses than small startups.

7. PayWhirl Recurring Payments

Features & Benefits:

• Simple setup with clear recurring billing tools.

• Affordable with a generous free plan.

• Easy customer management.

Pros:

• Perfect for small businesses just starting out.

• Budget-friendly with plans from ~$9/month.

Cons:

• Less feature-rich compared to Appstle or Recharge.

• May not scale well for high-volume businesses.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best subscription app for your Shopify store depends on your business size, goals, and budget:

• Just starting out? Try Seal, PayWhirl, or Subify for affordability and ease.

• Scaling mid-size stores? Appstle or Loop offer rich features and growth potential.

• Enterprise or custom needs? Recharge, Bold, or Skio are excellent, powerful choices.

At Seventy Four Design, we’ve helped countless eCommerce businesses integrate subscription models to boost growth. If you’d like advice on which app fits your brand—or need expert help implementing it—get in touch with our Shopify specialists today.