Have you established your Shopify store and started getting organic daily traffic on your page? That’s terrific. However, we hate to tell you that your hard work doesn’t end here.
Instead, you will have to do something to ensure regular business and keep your customers anchored towards your stores. Apart from upselling, cross-selling, email subscription popup, and lead magnet ideas, subscriptions are a great way to create a recurring income.
Unfortunately, Shopify does not offer a direct integration of the subscription model into your store. But, downloading the right external apps can help you out.
There are numerous productive apps on the Shopify store that you can choose from. To make the prospect easier for you, we’ve listed some of the best apps available to kickstart your subscription business model right away.
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Why Should You Use A Subscription-Based Business Model?
Before we start listing your options, here’s a brief introduction to the concept for newbies.
If you’re already getting new customers every day, why would you want to spend on a subscription business model integration after all? Well, believe it or not, it is more cost-effective to retain existing customers than to acquire new ones on your Shopify store.
Attributing to this fact, numerous innovative techniques help store owners bring back buyers who recently bought their products. These techniques include lead magnet ideas, exit-intent popups, and email subscription popup. In addition, platforms like Tada can help you design and manage effective popup ads to create regular customers.
Apart from these methods, the subscription business model also provides existing customers with new options to revisit your store. Besides that, this paid service also helps you generate a steady recurring income.
All you have to do is use an app to create valuable content every month to keep your buyers updated. For example, you can provide information about newly-released products or insights into your current product range.
This ultimately lets you incentivize your customer’s interest in your brand and earn regular income.
But is this process worth it? If you formulate a tailor-made subscription strategy for your brand, you can generate loyal customers and bag a defined income every month.
Also read: Is Selling on Shopify Profitable? | Top 10 Tricks to Increase Store Conversion in 2021
Similarly, a subscription-based model helps you analyze and predict the activities of regular customers. This means you will face fewer losses in the form of inventory wastage. Lastly, integrating a subscription model provides a steady revenue stream. With that peace of mind, you can concentrate on other aspects of your store, such as improving your marketing strategies and enhancing your overall user experience.
Best Shopify Subscription Apps
Now that you know how the subscription business model works and how it benefits your Shopify store sales, you’re probably ready to give it a try. If that’s the case, running a google search for the ideal subscription app will do you no good.
You’ll be presented with a long list of potential apps that might confuse you further. To save your time and effort, check out the options in this list and choose one that fits your needs.
Seal Subscriptions
Seal Subscriptions is one of the best options for those looking to integrate subscription services on their Shopify store. The app provides affordable packages with flawless programs to manage your strategy effectively.
As soon as you register your store on the app, add a subscription widget next to the ‘Add to Cart’ button on every product page. This way, customers can view their subscription options while completing the checkout process for every purchase.
Similarly, the app helps you manage the recurrent payments generated by subscribers and set up customized discount offers. While websites like Tada work to bring back abandoning customers through popup ads, Seal Subscriptions works similarly on customers looking to cancel their subscription.
Besides that, you can create discount offers for initial subscribers and flexible payment procedures through this app to attract more regular customers.
You can start using the app’s free version to find out what works for you and what doesn’t. After that, you can sign-up by choosing the right service package that fits your needs.
Bold Subscriptions
Bold Subscriptions is another popular option to create subscription offers on Shopify stores. Regardless of your product genre and your brand strategy, you can easily find a way to create a suitable subscription model through this app.
The best part is, Bold gives you the flexibility you need to improvise rules and manage the flow of subscriptions. This way, you can maintain your brand identity and prioritize your customers while generating regular subscription revenue.
Moreover, the app itself provides numerous options to set up profitable subscription incentives and increase conversions for your Shopify store. Similarly, you can even let your customers decide which services they need according to their budget through the Bold app.
Start by registering your store for free and learn the ropes of using this business model in the first 60 days. After that, you will have to pay to continue your subscription management every month.
ReCharge Subscriptions
ReCharge Subscriptions is one of the most abundantly used apps on Shopify. The app gives users outstanding features that make creating multiple subscription plans a breeze.
While using the ReCharge app, you can be sure that your customers receive a flawless shopping experience at your store. Apart from providing flexible payment plans for your subscriptions, ReCharge also maintains transparency for your clients.
Moreover, you can integrate numerous payment options such as credit cards and PayPal through ReCharge to reduce the hassle for your buyers. This way, fewer customers will feel inclined to cancel their subscriptions to your store.
Another aspect that makes this application unique is that it answers any queries put forward by your customers, creating an interactive experience for regular users. Also, it helps you manage payments and account information for each client so you can plan your future ventures accordingly.
The best part is, you can avail the 60-day free trial, then pick from one of its payment plans if you find the app profitable.
Recurring Order & Subscription
Recurring Order & Subscription is easily the most accessible apps on our list. Mainly because it lets your customers start a subscription without creating an account or completing a registration form.
All they have to do is follow an email link to subscribe or unsubscribe to your store according to their preferences. Besides that, the app places a subscription option on every product page to ensure no visitor misses the chance to become a regular visitor.
Furthermore, the app automatically sends payment emails and offers more than a hundred payment gateways for your customers. This way, users can subscribe to your store from anywhere in the world and generate more revenue for you.
Additionally, other significant highlights of the app include productive account management systems and automatic invoice generation.
You can also opt to send reminders, and cancellation-intent discount offers to make sure all of your subscribers continue their subscriptions to your store.
While the beginner payment plan for this app is affordable compared to others from its league, it does not offer any substantial free plans. Unfortunately, this means you’ll have to pay for it upfront before trying it out on your store.
PayWhirl Subscription Payments
If you’re skeptical about giving the subscription-based model a try, you should go for PayWhirl Subscriptions. That’s because it’s one of the top-rated and most reliable apps on Shopify.
The app connects your payment management system with the default Shopify payment system. This means your customers can pay for your subscription using a hundred different payment options.
Furthermore, PayWhirl lets your customers control their subscriptions and choose what they pay for in your store. This ensures long-term customer satisfaction and retention.
Moreover, you can even customize the designs and themes on the app to match your Shopify store theme. This way, the external app services won’t look out of place and shady to your customers.
Most importantly, PayWhirl offers a cloud-based database to store all your subscription information. Through this database, you can access various analytics and manage customer accounts from anywhere you like.
The app lets you start with a 14-day free trial, after which you will have to choose from the Starter, Pro, Plus, or Ultimate payment plan to continue.
Elevar Subscription Analytics
Elevar Subscription Analytics is another excellent app available on the Shopify app store. Apart from integrating a subscription-based model into your store, the app also helps formulate future strategies to increase conversions.
Unlike other subscription apps, this one integrates your Shopify revenue with Google Analytics. This way, your income on Shopify and Google Analytics match to produce correct product records and marketing campaign statistics.
Some of the other attractive features of this app include sending recurring order product data and automatically compiling recurring order revenue. Besides that, it offers detailed business insights so you can formulate future strategies accordingly.
However, the Elevar app does not offer a free trial option so you’ll have to commit to a monthly amount to use its services.
Final Words
Shopify subscription apps are the ideal lead magnet ideas to retain existing customers and keep them coming back for more products. However, to make sure your subscription-based strategy generates good revenue, you will have to keep some things in mind.
Firstly, you’ll have to ensure your subscription content provides value to your subscribers, otherwise, they will unsubscribe within the first month.
Secondly, you’ll have to innovate constantly in your product range and advertising strategy so that your subscription is a meaningful investment for your users.
Choosing the right app can help you streamline your strategy and generate a steady income for your Shopify store.