How do I create a subscription plan in Recurly Commerce?

You can launch new subscription offers in minutes by configuring products, delivery options, discounts, gifting, and more—no code required.

Before you begin

• Your Shopify catalog must be synced with Recurly Commerce

• Only products not already tied to another subscription plan can be selected

What is a subscription plan?

A subscription plan defines which products can be subscribed to, how often billing occurs, and what options (discounts, gifting, shipping, etc.) apply.

Why use it?

• Launch quickly – Create offers without dev work

• Flexible configuration – Choose subscription type, pricing, and frequency

• Boost retention & value – Offer discounts, add-ons, and gifting options

How to create a subscription plan

1. Start your offer

• In the Recurly Commerce app, go to Subscription Plans

• Click + Create Offer (top-right)

2. Set subscription information

• Enter a Name (internal only)

• Add a Description (for internal clarity)

• Click + Select Products to open your Shopify catalog

• Check boxes for the SKUs you want included

• Click Confirm, then Save Changes

Note: You’ll only see SKUs not already tied to another subscription plan.

3. Choose purchase options

Select how the product should be offered:

• One-time & Subscribe & Save – Customers can choose either

• Subscription Only – Only available as a subscription

• Pre-Paid Subscription Only – Customers pay up front for multiple renewals

• All 3 Options – Show all options in the widget

4. Set delivery frequencies and discounts

• Toggle Offer Discounts on

• Click + Add Option to define each delivery frequency (e.g., every 4 weeks)

• Add a discount percentage per frequency (e.g., 10% off for every 4-week delivery)

5. Enable gifting

• Toggle Add Gift Option on to display “Is this a gift?” during checkout

6. Add product swaps and add-ons

• Configure available options:

  • Swap – Allow subscribers to change SKUs at renewal

  • One-Time Add-On – Offer extras for a single delivery

  • Subscription Add-On – Include products on every renewal

Note: You can add more SKUs beyond the main plan products if needed.

7. Add special discounts

Choose from:

• By Order – Example: 50% off the first 3 orders

• By Quantity – Example: 20% off when ordering 3+ units

Note: Special discounts override frequency discounts until they expire.

8. Configure free shipping (optional)

• Toggle Free Shipping on

• Set:

  • Eligible countries

  • Minimum spend or quantity

  • First order only vs. all renewals

Tip: If your Shopify shipping profiles already include subscriptions, skip this step.

9. Publish your plan

• Click Publish Offer (top-right)

Your subscription is now live and visible on product pages for the selected SKUs.

For more details, visit our Recurly Commerce Product Documentation.