
Subscription apps are an excellent way to generate recurring income for your ecommerce business, without you having to put in any extra work. We’ve rounded up the 5 best subscriptions apps for Shopify in 2021 to make it easier for you to choose the best for your business.
Not only does your business make money from the monthly or annual subscription fees, but the revenue split with developers keeps them incentivised to help with customer retention.
It’s generally an easier process to retain a customer than find new customers, so having added hands-on assistance from developers boosts your marketing efforts.
Research shows that subscription-based apps yield higher revenue returns than once-off app purchases. Sensor Tower reported that in 2020, global subscription app revenue from the top 100 subscription apps grew by 35%, demonstrating a $3.3 billion increase from the previous year.
As well as earning money from your recurring monthly or yearly subscription fee, there are other opportunities to monetize your app through advertisements, discounts, promotions, and even VIP features upgrades.
If a user purchases an app, it’s likely that they use or will use it regularly. This opens the door to more access to, and engagement with, your audience, from added value content to loyalty rewards.
This can already start with the free trial period of the app, which delivers the full experience and features of your app, to pique the interest of your audience.
The five subscription apps that our tech team selected out of the many reviewed, all tick our boxes when measuring these key aspects:
- Easy and effortless to subscribe
- Customer control of their app settings
- Engaging interface
- Great back-office support
- Regularity of new value-added content
- Easy payment portal
- Reliable shipment and delivery
Let’s get down to the details.

1. Recurring Order & Subscription
Creator: SpurIT UAB
Reviews: 4.5 (121 reviews)
This app's usefulness is apparent when you consider that you may utilize it with auto-charging subscriptions as well as recurring invoices. You can choose the mode while establishing a subscription rule and change it at any time.
Your customers will know the subscription expiry date, renewal price, and other details.
You can easily manage their subscriptions, including changing the plan or canceling it together.

2. Subscriptions by ReCharge
Creator: ReCharge
Reviews: 4.7 (864 reviews)
In minutes, Subscriptions by ReCharge enables you to set up a subscription program and link it to your current tech and several popular payment processors. You can provide your consumers with additional alternatives as well using this application.
Finally, it lets you build a customer portal that allows clients to manage their subscriptions using SMS and a website.

3. Seal Subscriptions
Creator: Seal Subscriptions
Reviews: 4.8 (354 reviews)
It's never been simpler to set up a subscription when using Seal Subscriptions. Install the app and begin creating recurring income with your first subscription rule.
Shopify retailers may simultaneously use the app in auto-charging and recurring invoices modes. Before creating a subscription rule, you are given a chance to select the mode.

4. AAA Membership + Subscription
Creator: AAAeCommerce Inc.
Reviews: 4.1 (54 reviews)
The AAA Membership + Subscription gives you the tools you need to automate your membership management processes, increase retention, and pamper your customers with a superior experience.
You can add multiple membership levels, discount codes, and required admin approval on your member application form. You can also set up automated emails to welcome new members once their application is accepted.

5. Bold Subscriptions
Creator: BOLD
Reviews: 4.4 (234 reviews)
If you're not in the tech business, why not take advantage of a subscription platform that handles everything for you?
To help develop reliable recurring income and customer loyalty, Bold Subscriptions allows you to create a subscription offer as simple or complex as you want.