SMART Subscriptions vs Skio
Updated · SMART Subscriptions (E-TRADE PARTNER)
SMART Subscriptions is a free, self-serve app for selling plans in Shopify, with customer self-service in the new Shopify customer accounts. Skio, now a Recharge company, lists one plan, Scale, at $599/mo billed monthly or $5,988/yr billed annually, plus 1% + 20¢ per transaction on subscription orders, with Enterprise pricing on request. Scale includes a no-code portal with passwordless login, lifecycle journeys, a multi-step cancel flow builder, Build-a-Box, SkioSMS and migration.
SMART Subscriptions does this with plans, a product-page widget, and a native customer portal.
Try it freeOn this page
Skio is aimed at brands already running subscriptions at scale; its listing names IM8, Grüns and Everyday Dose among more than 1,000 subscription brands. With a single listed plan, the decision is less about which tier and more about whether your program is large enough for Skio's retention tools to cover $599/mo plus per-order fees.
Quick comparison
| Area | SMART Subscriptions | Skio |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | E-TRADE PARTNER | Skio (listed as "Skio, a Recharge Company") |
| Price | Free. No paid plans or app fees | Scale $599/mo, or $5,988/yr billed annually; 1% + 20¢ per transaction on orders with a subscription; Enterprise custom |
| 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 | No-code customer portal with passwordless login and quick actions |
| Cancellation | Customers cancel once the plan's minimum payments are reached | Multi-step cancel flow builder that turns cancellations into pauses, swaps and saves |
| Boxes | Not available | Build-a-Box (static, dynamic or sectioned) |
| Failed payments | Payment and inventory failure retries; final pause, cancel or skip | Payment recovery campaigns with timing optimization |
| Messaging | 17 email templates, inactive until activated, with test sends | Automated journeys (welcome, win-back, upsell) and SkioSMS (1- and 2-way) |
| Analytics | Home shows MRR and active subscriptions, refreshed about every 10 minutes | Real-time analytics with advanced segmentation |
| Migration | No import or migration tool | Zero-downtime migration included in Scale |
| Support | Chat or email (support@etradepartner.io), plus SMART docs and guides | Hands-on onboarding and training on Scale; dedicated merchant success manager and emergency support on Enterprise |
Sources, checked November 1, 2026: Skio on the Shopify App Store, Skio pricing and Recharge's announcement. 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 Skio or Recharge. Spot something out of date? Email support@etradepartner.io.
When SMART fits better
- Your subscription program is new, and $599/mo plus 1% + 20¢ per order would be more than it earns today.
- You want to set up and run subscriptions yourself, working from written docs and guides.
- Your plan rules are simple: pay as you go or pay in advance, a frequency in days, weeks, months or years, and optional minimum and maximum payments.
When Skio fits better
- You want customers to build boxes, and to be offered a pause or a swap when they try to cancel.
- You run lifecycle journeys and SMS (SkioSMS) from the subscription platform.
- You want subscription-first loyalty with credits, tiers and referrals, which Skio sells as an add-on.
- You are moving a large subscriber base and want zero-downtime migration with hands-on onboarding.
Skio and Recharge
Recharge announced in April 2026 that it had acquired Skio. The App Store listing now reads "Skio, a Recharge Company", and Recharge says both products continue to operate for now. If you are weighing the two, our SMART vs Recharge page lists Recharge's $25/mo, Starter and Plus plans next to SMART.
A self-serve SMART setup usually starts with Get started, Failed payments and retries and the billing frequencies guide.
Run subscribe and save for free
Start a subscription program in Shopify without a $599/mo platform fee.
Install free on ShopifyFrequently asked questions
›How much does Skio cost?
Skio lists Scale at $599/mo billed monthly or $5,988/yr billed annually, plus 1% + 20¢ per transaction on orders involving a subscription. Enterprise pricing is custom.
›Is Skio part of Recharge?
Yes. Recharge announced the acquisition in April 2026, and the App Store listing now reads "Skio, a Recharge Company". Recharge says both products continue to operate for now.
›Is loyalty included in Skio's price?
Skio's pricing page lists subscription-first loyalty (credits, tiers and referrals) as an additional charge. SkioSMS is listed in the Scale plan.