When to use manual subscriptions
Manual subscriptions are useful when:- A customer calls to set up a subscription
- You’re migrating customers from another subscription platform
- You want to create a contract for testing or internal use
- A customer places an order through a channel where the subscription widget isn’t available
Create a manual subscription
1
Go to Subscriptions
Click Subscriptions in the main navigation.
2
Start the manual flow
Click Import Existing Contracts, then click Create manual subscription.
3
Set status and plan type
Choose:
- Status: Active, Paused, or Cancelled (usually Active for new contracts)
- Selling Plan (optional): Select an existing selling plan if you want the contract linked to one
- Plan Type: Pay As You Go, Prepaid, or Advanced (choose based on your billing model)
4
Set the next order date and time
Enter the date and time when the first subscription order should be created. This is the contract’s next billing date.
5
Configure billing frequency
Set:
- Billing Frequency: The number (e.g., 1, 2, 3)
- Billing Interval: DAY, WEEK, MONTH, or YEAR
6
Configure delivery frequency
Set the delivery period (usually matches billing frequency for PAY_AS_YOU_GO contracts). For prepaid contracts, delivery can differ from billing.
7
Set billing iterations
Enter:
- Minimum Number Orders: The fewest billing cycles required (usually 1)
- Maximum Number Orders: The maximum billing cycles allowed (use a high number like 999 for indefinite subscriptions)
8
Choose currency
Select the subscription currency (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, INR, etc.).
9
Add products
Click Browse Product and select the products to include in the subscription. For each product, set:
- Quantity: Number of units per order
- Unit Price: Price per unit
10
Choose the customer
Click Choose Customer, search for the customer by name or email, and select them. Then choose the payment method from the customer’s saved payment methods.
11
Enter customer information
Fill in the customer’s first name, last name, and phone number. If the customer has an existing account, some fields may auto-fill.
12
Enter the shipping address
Fill in:
- Address 1 and Address 2 (optional)
- Country
- Province (state/region)
- City
- Zip (postal code)
13
Set shipping price
Enter the shipping price per order (e.g., 4.00 for $4 shipping). Enter 0 for free shipping.
14
Save the subscription
Click Save Subscription. The app creates the contract and redirects you to the subscription detail page.
What happens after creation
Once you save the manual subscription:- The subscription contract is created in Shopify
- The next order is scheduled for the date/time you specified
- Billing will occur automatically at the specified frequency
- The customer can manage the subscription through the customer portal (if enabled)
Limitations
- You cannot create manual subscriptions if your shop is running on a superseded or old app installation (during app migration periods)
- The customer must have a saved payment method in Shopify
- You must have the necessary products and variants in your catalog
Manual subscriptions follow the same billing, fulfillment, and dunning rules as subscriptions created through the storefront. Once created, they appear in the subscription list alongside other contracts.

