SMART Subscriptions vs Joy
Updated · SMART Subscriptions (E-TRADE PARTNER)
SMART Subscriptions is free at any number of subscribers, and you set it up yourself with SMART's docs and guides. Joy Subscription is free for up to 50 active subscriptions, then Starter ($49/mo + 0.75%) or Pro ($199/mo + 0.5%, called Professional on the App Store), with Enterprise on request. Joy adds bundles and build-your-own boxes, win-back flows, product swaps in the portal and setup done by its team.
SMART Subscriptions does this with plans, a product-page widget, and a native customer portal.
Try it freeOn this page
Joy sells service alongside software: free setup, a free widget rebuild, a migration manager on the free plan, and Slack support on paid plans. SMART is self-serve, with written docs and guides. The free tiers also end in different places. Joy's stops at 50 active subscriptions; SMART's has no limit.
Quick comparison
| Area | SMART Subscriptions | Joy Subscription |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | E-TRADE PARTNER | Joy Subscription |
| Price | Free. No paid plans or app fees | Free up to 50 active subscriptions (0% fee); Starter $49/mo + 0.75% per transaction; Pro $199/mo + 0.5%; Enterprise on request. 14-day trial |
| Setup | Self-serve, following SMART docs and guides | Free setup and widget rebuild by Joy's team; migration manager on Free |
| Plan options | Pay as you go and pay in advance; every N days, weeks, months or years; percentage, amount off or fixed price | Subscribe and save, trial periods and tiered discounts; fixed bundles, build-your-own boxes and frequently-bought bundles on Starter |
| Customer self-service | Requires the new Shopify customer accounts. Pause, resume, skip or unskip, switch to a saved payment method, update the shipping address, cancel after the plan's minimum payments | Reschedule, skip, swap, pause and cancel in a self-serve portal |
| Keeping subscribers | Second discount after a set number of payments; minimum payments before a customer can cancel | Advanced cancellation, win-back and perks on Starter |
| Failed payments | Payment and inventory failure retries; errors that cannot be retried go straight to your final action | Dunning with smart retry logic on Starter |
| Analytics | Home shows MRR and active subscriptions, refreshed about every 10 minutes | Performance reports on Free; churn, LTV and retention reports on Starter; inventory forecast on Pro |
| Support | Chat or email (support@etradepartner.io), plus SMART docs and guides | 24/7/365 live support; priority Slack on Starter; VIP Slack with an account manager on Pro |
Sources, checked November 1, 2026: Joy Subscription on the Shopify App Store and Joy pricing. Prices are USD list prices as shown on those pages, and features are described the way the vendor describes them. Trademarks belong to their owners. SMART Subscriptions is not affiliated with Joy Subscription. Spot something out of date? Email support@etradepartner.io.
When SMART fits better
- You expect to pass 50 active subscriptions and do not want a monthly fee plus a share of every subscription order.
- You want subscription emails switched off until you have reviewed them: SMART's 17 templates stay inactive until you activate each one, and can be translated.
- You are comfortable setting things up from documentation rather than having a vendor team build it for you.
When Joy fits better
- You want Joy's team to set up the app and rebuild your subscription widget, with a migration manager even on the free plan.
- You sell fixed bundles or build-your-own boxes (Starter, $49/mo + 0.75%).
- Customers should reschedule deliveries and swap products themselves in the portal.
- You also use Joy Loyalty, or need Klaviyo, Shopify Flow and POS integrations, which Joy lists on its free plan.
Past 50 subscriptions on Joy
Subscriber 51 moves a Joy store to Starter. Using the listed rates, $5,000/mo in subscription orders costs $49 + $37.50 = $86.50/mo on Starter. Pro's lower rate only beats Starter once subscription orders pass $60,000/mo, where both come to $499/mo. Pro is mainly worth it for its own features: inventory forecasts, a JavaScript SDK, a custom portal through the Storefront API and VIP Slack support.
If you set SMART up yourself, start with Get started, then Emails and the subscription email guide.
No subscriber limit on a free app
Grow past 50 subscribers without moving to a paid plan: SMART has no subscription limit.
Install free on ShopifyFrequently asked questions
›What happens after 50 subscriptions on Joy?
Joy's free plan covers up to 50 active subscriptions. Beyond that, Starter is $49/mo + 0.75% per transaction and Pro is $199/mo + 0.5%. SMART has no subscription limit and no app fees.
›Can SMART customers swap products like in Joy's portal?
No. SMART customers can pause, resume, skip or unskip orders, switch to a saved payment method, update the shipping address and cancel after the minimum payments. Joy's portal lists reschedule, skip, swap, pause and cancel.
›Do I need Joy Loyalty to use Joy Subscription?
No. Joy lists Joy Loyalty as an integration, not a requirement.