Recharge vs. Shopify Subscriptions: The Recurring Revenue Choice

For e-commerce merchants, monthly recurring revenue drives success, and subscriptions offer a direct path to achieving it. Shopify merchants have a number of options to integrate subscriptions into their proposition and in this article we compare Recharge with Shopify’s own free offering. Recharge, at $99 a month, offers a robust toolkit; Shopify Subscriptions, free to all Shopify users, keeps it lean and straightforward. Both deliver, but their approaches—and their fit—couldn’t differ more.

Recharge: The $99 Heavyweight

Recharge enters the scene with a hefty price tag—$99 monthly, or $499 for its Plus tier. It’s built for merchants who need control: custom subscription flows, detailed analytics, seamless ties to Shopify, Klaviyo, and beyond. Think pause options, tiered billing, churn insights—it’s a system that flexes, earning 4.6 stars from almost 2,000 Shopify App Store reviews. Brands like Soylent rely on it to manage thousands of subscribers with precision. It’s not light on the wallet, but for those scaling subscriptions into a cornerstone, Recharge delivers the goods.

Shopify Subscriptions: The Free Featherweight

Shopify Subscriptions, by contrast, is completely free. It’s a lean, no frills contender: set up plans, collect payments, and call it a day. No deep customization here—pause or cancel are your moves, with basic sales tracking to boot. Alas, though, it only snags 3.1 stars from 126 reviews. Whilst merchants value the simplicity and zero price tag, they have issues with the lack of subscription management, issues with free shipping and failed payment.

Application doesn't work. I created a plan, but tests didn't work well and clients couldn't use the application correctly as well...so basicly instead of buying a subscription, they ordered a single order.

Application doesn't work. I created a plan, but tests didn't work well and clients couldn't use the application correctly as well...so basicly instead of buying a subscription, they ordered a single order.

For small outfits—say, a coffee roaster or niche apparel line—it’s a quiet, effective hum. No bells, just the essentials.

Merchant Fit: Scale or Scrimp

Where Recharge shines is flexibility. It hands you tools to tailor the subscriber experience—gift options, dynamic pricing, API-driven integrations—perfect for merchants juggling complex needs. Shopify Subscriptions sticks to the basics: fixed plans, no frills, all within Shopify’s ecosystem. If you’re after depth, Recharge wins; if speed and ease matter, Shopify’s your pick.

Merchant fit tells the tale. Recharge suits those with ambition—established brands tracking retention, tweaking flows, managing volume. It’s a $99 bet on sophistication. Shopify Subscriptions fits the scrappy or the new—startups or side gigs where free and functional outweigh fancy. Recurring revenue splits by scale: big players lean Recharge, leaner ones grab Shopify.

Cost seals it. Recharge’s $99—plus 1% per transaction—demands commitment; Shopify’s free ride (1% if not on Shopify Payments) asks nothing upfront. For e-commerce recurring revenue, it’s a choice of investment versus immediacy.

In 2025, Recharge 2025 brings muscle—custom, comprehensive, a merchant’s ally in growth. Shopify Subscriptions offers clarity—free, fast, a foothold for the frugal. Decide based on your stakes: Recharge for the long haul, Shopify for the quick win. Both work—your call depends on how big you’re playing.