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What is a subscription plan?

A subscription plan defines how a product is sold as a subscription in your Shopify store. It determines:
  • How often customers are charged (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly)
  • How much they pay
  • How the subscription price is calculated
  • How long the subscription runs
  • Which products the plan applies to
  • Whether the subscription renews automatically
Once a plan is created, it can be attached to one or more Shopify products so customers can select it directly on the product page.

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Common subscription plan types

Before creating your plan, decide how you want to structure your subscription offering. Below are the most common models.

Duration-based pricing

Lower monthly prices for longer commitments. Example: €100/month for 6 months, €60/month for 12 months.

Monthly auto-renew

Flexible monthly subscription that continues until the customer cancels.

Fixed-term auto-renew

Customers commit to a fixed period (e.g. 12 months), which then renews automatically.

Short-term (daily/weekly)

Short-term subscriptions or rentals billed daily or weekly.

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Duration-based subscription pricing

Use this setup when the subscription price depends on the length of the commitment — the longer the term, the lower the monthly price.
In this example we create a plan with five duration options: 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, each with a decreasing monthly price.

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Step 1 — Basic setup

  1. Go to Shopify Admin → circuly Rental & Subscriptions → Subscription Plans → Create a subscription plan.
  2. Enter a Plan name visible to customers. Example: Flexible subscription plans.
  3. Set the Subscription interval to Monthly.
  4. Set the Subscription type to Product subscription.
  5. Configure Auto-renew:
    • Enabled — the subscription continues monthly after the final cycle until cancelled.
    • Disabled — the subscription ends after the defined cycles and the return flow triggers automatically.
  6. Add an internal Merchant code (not visible to customers). Example: bike_subscription_plans.
  7. Optionally add a Description. Example: Choose a subscription duration. The longer the commitment, the lower the monthly price.

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Step 2 — Subscription frequencies

In the Subscription sequences section, click Add frequency for each duration option:
DurationCyclesFrequencyPricing typeAmount
1 month1MonthlyCustom price€100
3 months3MonthlyCustom price€70
6 months6MonthlyCustom price€50
12 months12MonthlyCustom price€40
24 months24MonthlyCustom price€35

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Step 3 — Product & variant selection

  1. Under Products, click Assign products.
  2. Select the products that should offer this subscription plan.
  3. If a product has multiple variants, select the specific variants to include.

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Step 4 — Finalise

  1. Review the Subscription sequences and confirm cycles, pricing type, and amounts.
  2. Click Save.
Customers will now see all duration options on the product page and can choose their preferred term at purchase.

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Monthly subscription that auto-renews

Use this setup for a flexible monthly subscription with no fixed commitment. The minimum duration is one month, and it renews automatically every month until cancelled.

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Step 1 — Create the subscription plan

  1. Go to Shopify Admin → circuly Rental & Subscriptions → Subscription Plans → Create a subscription plan.
  2. Enter a Plan name. Example: Monthly subscription.
  3. Set the Subscription interval to Monthly.
  4. Set the Subscription type to Product subscription.
  5. Enable Auto-renew.
  6. Add a Merchant code. Example: monthly_subscription.
  7. Optionally add a Description. Example: Subscribe monthly and cancel anytime.

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Step 2 — Define the subscription sequence

Click Add frequency and configure:
FieldValue
Cycles1
FrequencyMonthly
Pricing type(your setup)
Amounte.g. €49
Because Auto-renew is enabled, the subscription renews for another month after each billing cycle until the customer cancels.

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Step 3 — Assign products and variants

  1. Under Products, click Assign products.
  2. Select the products and variants that should offer this plan.

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Step 4 — Finalise

  1. Review the subscription sequence and confirm the pricing.
  2. Click Save.

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Fixed-term subscription that auto-renews

Use this setup when customers must commit to a fixed period (e.g. 12 months), after which the subscription renews automatically.
Unlike flexible monthly subscriptions, customers cannot cancel before the initial commitment period ends.
Example: A customer subscribes to a 12-month bike subscription at €39/month. After 12 months, the subscription automatically renews.

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Step 1 — Create the subscription plan

  1. Go to Shopify Admin → circuly Rental & Subscriptions → Subscription Plans → Create a subscription plan.
  2. Enter a Plan name. Example: 12-month subscription.
  3. Set the Subscription interval to Monthly.
  4. Set the Subscription type to Product subscription.
  5. Enable Auto-renew.
  6. Add a Merchant code. Example: 12_month_subscription.
  7. Optionally add a Description. Example: 12-month subscription that automatically renews unless cancelled.

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Step 2 — Define the subscription duration

Click Add frequency and configure:
FieldValue
Cycles12
FrequencyMonthly
Pricing type(your setup)
Amounte.g. €39
Because Auto-renew is enabled, the subscription renews for another 12-month period after the first term ends.

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Step 3 — Assign products and variants

  1. Under Products, click Assign products.
  2. Select the products and any specific variants to include.

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Step 4 — Finalise

  1. Review the subscription sequence and confirm cycles and pricing.
  2. Click Save.
Customers will see the 12-month subscription option on the product page, and it will renew automatically unless cancelled before the next term begins.