7 Best Shopify Subscription Apps (And Why Stay AI Leads)

Customers aren’t hitting the malls or strolling into mom-and-pop shops anymore. No, they’re doing their shopping almost exclusively online these days. In fact, McKinsey research shows that over 90% of US and Chinese consumers shopped at an online-only retailer in a one-month period. 

What shoppers are seeking now more than ever is convenience, personalization, and flexibility – and subscription commerce solves all three.

However, to stand out in the crowded market and saturated ad space, DTC brands must build lasting customer relationships, increase retention, and unlock predictable revenue. That’s where a Shopify subscription app comes in. 

In this guide, we’ll break down the seven best Shopify subscription apps and explain why Stay AI stands out on top.

How to Pick the Best Shopify Subscription App

Before diving into the list, here are the key features that define today’s best Shopify subscription apps, based on what brands value most:

• Flexible billing and frequency options: weekly, monthly, prepaid, and custom intervals
• Customer self-service tools: enable subscribers to easily pause, skip, or swap orders from their portals
• Deep Shopify integration: seamless checkout and stack compatibility
• AI and automation capabilities: churn prediction, automated winbacks, and dynamic cancel flows
• Retention and churn-reduction tools: dunning management, cancellation surveys, and reactivation campaigns
• Analytics and insights: at a minimum, access to MRR, churn rate, and subscriber lifetime value (LTV)
• Scalability and migration support: white-glove support and handover, along with flexibility to grow with your business
• Transparent pricing: predictable costs and clear ROI

What is the Best Subscription App for Shopify?

Now that we’ve covered what makes a great Shopify subscription app, let’s dive into the best options available today. Each of these tools helps DTC brands unlock recurring revenue, but they differ in a few key ways (e.g. automation, retention features, scalability). Below, we break down what sets each platform apart and why Stay AI leads the pack.

1. Stay AI: Best Shopify Subscription App for Retention and LTV Growth

Stay AI helps Shopify merchants turn one-time buyers into loyal subscribers through intelligent retention automation. Tools like RetentionEngine and WinbackEngine use AI to predict churn, automate reactivation, and personalize cancellation flows so Shopify brands can improve customer lifetime value across the board.

Key Features:

• AI-powered retention automations and churn analytics
• Smart cancel flows and win-back campaigns
• No-code personalization tools: customer portal customization, Digital Punch Cards, and A/B tests that self-optimize
• In-depth analytics dashboards for churn visibility and prevention
• High-touch customer support not gated by pricing tiers

Pros:

• Robust personalization tools that require no coding or third-party integrations
• Comprehensive analytics suite revealing churn drivers and retention trends
• Dedicated, proactive support team focused on merchant growth
• Built-in AI testing and optimization that improve over time

Cons:

• Achieving full ROI requires a team ready to implement Stay AI’s advanced retention strategies

Overall rating on Shopify App Store: 5.0 stars ⭐️

2. Recharge: Best App for Established Shopify Plus Brands

Recharge is a long-standing Shopify subscription app built for larger Shopify Plus and enterprise brands that prioritize billing reliability and extensive integrations. It’s ideal for merchants needing stable recurring payments and developer-friendly APIs to power complex setups, though it does have limitations regarding personalization, analytics depth, and agility.

Key Features:

• Mature subscription billing and payments infrastructure
• Integrations across major Shopify tools and APIs
• Custom enterprise pricing model

Pros:

• Well-established, scalable billing solution for large merchants
• Extensive ecosystem integrations

Cons:

• Limited personalization and A/B testing compared to newer solutions
• Shallow analytics that make churn prevention difficult
• Support experience varies by account tier, limiting smaller teams’ access to help

Overall rating on Shopify App Store: 4.6 stars ⭐️

3. Ordergroove: Best for Enterprise-Level Retailers

Ordergroove is one of the best Shopify subscription apps for enterprise and omnichannel retailers that require highly tailored subscription and reorder programs. Its strength lies in predictive reorder capabilities and advanced loyalty integrations, though it often demands significant implementation resources,  relying heavily on custom builds and managed services.

Key Features:

• Predictive reorder and loyalty analytics
• Custom enterprise implementations
• Closed API requiring managed-service updates

Pros:

• Excellent enterprise-grade scalability
• Deep integrations with large retail ecosystems

Cons:

• Requires paid managed services for any store modification
• Closed API limits flexibility and increases long-term costs
• Not product-driven: updates depend on service requests instead of out-of-box innovation

Overall rating on Shopify App Store: 5.0 stars ⭐️

4. Loop Subscriptions: Best for Mid-Market DTC Subscription Brands

Loop Subscriptions is a user-friendly Shopify subscription app tailored for mid-market Shopify brands. It offers essential recurring billing and retention tools in an accessible package, making it a solid fit for growing DTC businesses expanding beyond their first subscription program, though it does lack scalability and advanced analytics for merchants seeking deeper retention control.

Key Features:

• Clean UI and simple subscription workflows
• Basic analytics dashboard
• Shopify checkout compatibility

Pros:

• Fast onboarding and intuitive interface
• Affordable for small to mid-size Shopify brands

Cons:

• Limited analytics and retention insights beyond basic churn data
• Minimal A/B testing functionality to optimize customer experiences
• Can’t easily scale to handle enterprise needs or complex segmentation

Overall rating on Shopify App Store: 5.0 stars ⭐️

5. Bold Subscriptions: Best for Budget-Conscious Stores

Bold Subscriptions provides reliable recurring order functionality for small to mid-size merchants at a low cost. It’s a strong choice for stores seeking the best subscription app for Shopify on a budget. Brands can implement straightforward subscriptions without complex automation or analytics needs, although this comes at the cost of advanced reporting and automation capabilities.

Key Features:

• Core recurring billing and management
• Multiple subscription frequency options
• Integration with Bold’s app ecosystem

Pros:

• Low-cost entry for new or small merchants
• Simple setup and fast deployment

Cons:

• Lacks advanced retention, AI, and analytics capabilities

Overall rating on Shopify App Store: 4.3 stars ⭐️

6. Subi: Best for Brands That Want Subscriptions and Loyalty in One

Subi is a powerful Shopify subscription and loyalty app designed for modern DTC brands that want flexibility, automation, and customer retention tools in one place. Its built-in loyalty and rewards system makes it especially valuable for fast-growing brands seeking to increase LTV and reduce churn.

Key Features:

• Seamless Shopify-native subscription management supporting multiple models
• Built-in loyalty and rewards engine with points, tiers, and exclusive member benefits
• Customer self-service portal with pause, skip, and edit options, plus detailed analytics and dunning management

Pros:

• Excellent usability and quick setup with a clean Shopify-native interface
• Combines subscriptions and loyalty for higher retention and LTV
• Highly rated support team known for responsiveness and customization help

Cons:

• Some loyalty and advanced analytics features are available only on higher-tier plans
• Small transaction fees per subscription can add up for high-volume merchants

Overall rating on Shopify App Store: 4.9 stars ⭐️

7. Appstle Subscriptions: Best for Simplicity and Flexibility

Appstle Subscriptions is a versatile, cost-effective Shopify subscription app for merchants managing basic models. It’s best for smaller teams that value ease of use, customization, and accessible support without needing advanced automation features.

Key Features:

• Flexible frequency and bundle management
• Loyalty rewards and discounting
• Payment recovery and dunning

Pros:

• Simple to use and widely supported
• Flexible pricing options and strong customer support

Cons:

• Minimal AI automation and limited advanced analytics

Overall rating on Shopify App Store: 4.9 stars ⭐️

Shopify Subscription App Comparison Summary

Why Stay AI Is the Best Shopify Subscription App for Retention and Growth

Shopify brands have more subscription options than ever, but few combine automation, personalization, and analytics the way Stay AI does. Its AI-driven retention tools help brands turn one-time buyers into loyal subscribers, driving higher LTV and more predictable recurring revenue. To learn more about how Stay can help grow your subscription program, book a demo.

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