Subscription Plans
Subscription plans are the templates that define how subscriptions repeat: how often billing happens, whether there's a trial period, the minimum/maximum number of billing cycles, and whether there's a discount. Every individual subscription (see Subscriptions (Shop)) is always based on exactly one subscription plan.
/shop/subscription-plansWhat can I do here?
- Create, edit, and delete subscription plans
- Set the billing interval (e.g. monthly, quarterly)
- Configure a trial period in days
- Set a minimum and maximum number of billing cycles
- Set a percentage discount for the plan
- Search plans and activate/deactivate them
Step by step
- Create a new plan: Click "Create new plan", enter a name and optional description, choose the interval and interval count (e.g. "Monthly" with count 1 = every month), optionally add trial days, min/max cycles, and a discount, then click "Create".
- Edit a plan: In the table, click the three-dot menu on the desired plan, choose "Edit", adjust values, and save.
- Take a plan out of circulation: Choose "Delete" from the three-dot menu and confirm. Despite the label the plan is not deleted but set to inactive: it disappears from the picker for new subscriptions while the record itself stays, so running subscriptions can keep referring to it. There is no true delete.
Fields explained
| Field | Meaning | Notes/Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Name of the plan | Required, 1 to 255 characters |
| Description | Additional info about the plan | Optional, 5000 characters maximum |
| Interval | Time unit between two charges | Daily, Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Yearly |
| Interval count | Multiple of the interval between two charges | Whole number from 1 to 365. Example: interval "Monthly" with count 2 = every 2 months |
| Trial days | Number of trial days before the first charge | Whole number from 0 to 365. 0 = no trial period |
| Min cycles | Intended as a minimum term | Optional. Not currently enforced: a cancellation before this number is reached is not refused. For now the value is documentation only |
| Max cycles | Maximum number of billing cycles | Optional, unlimited if empty. Once the number is reached the subscription moves to status "Expired" and is not billed further |
| Discount (%) | Percentage discount off the regular product price | Optional, 0 to 100 |
| Plan active | Whether the plan is selectable for new subscriptions | Existing subscriptions keep running unchanged if deactivated |
Values & statuses
Billing interval (subscription_plan_interval)
| Value | Meaning | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | 1 day (× interval count) | Very short billing cycles |
| Weekly | 7 days (× interval count) | |
| Biweekly | 14 days (× interval count) | |
| Monthly | 30 days (× interval count) | Most common choice for subscription models |
| Quarterly | 90 days (× interval count) | |
| Yearly | 365 days (× interval count) |
Billing counts in fixed days, not calendar months. "Monthly" means every 30 days. A subscription started on 31 January therefore falls due again on 2 March, not 28 February, and the billing day drifts forward over the year. If you need a fixed calendar day, the existing fields cannot express it.
Plan status
| Value | Meaning | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Plan can be selected for new subscriptions | — |
| Inactive | Plan is blocked for new subscriptions | Existing subscriptions on this plan keep running unchanged |
Frequently asked questions
What happens to running subscriptions if I deactivate a plan?
Nothing. They keep running unchanged; the plan simply stops appearing in the picker for new subscriptions. That is a different matter from editing the plan, see the next question.
Can I change a plan's values later without affecting existing subscriptions?
No. Running subscriptions reference the plan rather than copying its values at sign-up. If you change the interval or the discount, the new value therefore also governs the future charges of existing subscriptions. To change terms for new customers only, create a new plan and deactivate the old one.
What are min/max cycles good for?
Max cycles limits the term: once the number is reached the subscription moves to "Expired" and is billed no further. That is how you model, say, a subscription over 12 charges. Min cycles is intended as a minimum term but is not currently enforced: a cancellation before the number is reached is not prevented. Do not rely on this field for a binding minimum term.
How does the trial period work?
Enter a number of trial days. The subscription then starts in "Trialing" status and the first charge is scheduled for the end of the trial. No payment method is required at sign-up.
Why can't I set a price on the plan?
A plan carries no price of its own. It only describes the rhythm and the discount; the amount comes from the product the subscription refers to. Maintain the price under Products instead.