Payment gateways
Updated · SMART Subscriptions (E-TRADE PARTNER)
Shopify supports subscription apps like SMART Subscriptions on Shopify Payments, PayPal Express, Authorize.net, Adyen, and Stripe (select merchants only). With Shopify Payments, customers can also pay with Shop Pay, Apple Pay (Visa and Mastercard only), Google Pay, or PayPal. Local, manual, or non-card payment methods might not be available for subscriptions.
SMART Subscriptions does this with plans, a product-page widget, and a native customer portal.
Try it freeSMART starts each renewal charge on the saved payment method, and Shopify creates the renewal order. Confirm your gateway is on Shopify's list before you spend on Subscribe and Save traffic. Source: Shopify subscription considerations.
What to verify
| Topic | What to verify | Where it shows up |
|---|---|---|
| First subscription checkout | Customer can pay with a supported method | Shopify Checkout |
| Stored payment method | Gateway is on Shopify's subscription list | Payment method on the contract |
| Renewal charge | Later cycles bill without a new checkout | New Shopify order + Subscriptions |
| Failed card | Retries and final action are configured | Settings |
| Customer switches card | Customer can switch to another saved payment method | Management |
Practical rules
- Use Shopify Payments, PayPal Express, Authorize.net, Adyen, or Stripe (select merchants only). Availability depends on your region.
- Renewals charge the payment method saved on the subscription contract.
- With Shopify Payments, Shop Pay, Apple Pay (Visa and Mastercard only), Google Pay, and PayPal work for subscriptions. Authorize.net doesn't support Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- Local, manual, or non-card methods might not be available for subscriptions. You can hide them per option with Hide payment methods in Plans.
- Pair gateway checks with Failed payments and retries and activated billing templates under Emails.
SMART does not replace the gateway
Customers pay through Shopify Checkout and your store's gateway. SMART schedules each renewal charge and manages Plans, Subscriptions, Widget, Management, Emails, and Settings around that payment flow.
Validate the money path with a test customer and Shopify Payments test mode before launch. See Test your setup.
Build subscriptions on a gateway that can renew
Launch [SMART Subscriptions](https://apps.shopify.com/smart-subscriptions) on a gateway Shopify supports for subscriptions.
Install free on ShopifyFrequently asked questions
›Which payment gateway should I use?
One that Shopify supports for subscription apps: Shopify Payments, PayPal Express, Authorize.net, Adyen, or Stripe (select merchants only).
›Can accelerated checkouts work with subscriptions?
Yes. With Shopify Payments, customers can buy subscriptions with Shop Pay, Apple Pay (Visa and Mastercard only), Google Pay, or PayPal.
›Does SMART process payments itself?
No. Customers pay through Shopify Checkout and your store's gateway. SMART starts each renewal charge on the saved payment method, and Shopify creates the order.
›What should I configure if a renewal card fails?
Set payment failure retries and a final action in Settings, activate billing failure emails under Emails. In the portal, customers can switch to another saved payment method; they can't add a new card there.