---
title: Setup subscription charges
description: Set up recurring subscription charges with Shopify App Pricing.
source_url:
  html: >-
    https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/launch/billing/shopify-app-pricing/subscription-billing/setup-subscription-charges
  md: >-
    https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/launch/billing/shopify-app-pricing/subscription-billing/setup-subscription-charges.md
---

# Setup subscription charges

Time-based subscriptions let you bill merchants on a regular schedule with fixed fees. You can offer free plans, monthly recurring charges, yearly recurring charges, or a combination of monthly and yearly options.

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## Recurring charge options

Shopify App Pricing supports the following recurring charge types:

* **Free plans**: No charge to the merchant
* **Monthly recurring**: Fixed monthly subscription fee
* **Yearly recurring**: Fixed annual subscription fee
* **Monthly with yearly discount**: Offer both monthly and yearly options, with a discounted rate for annual commitments

You can also configure [free trial periods](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/launch/billing/shopify-app-pricing/subscription-billing/offer-free-trials) and welcome links for each plan.

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## Add a recurring subscription plan

### Step 1: Add the plan

1. From your Partner Dashboard, click **Apps > All Apps** and click the name of the app you want to update pricing for.
2. Click **Distribution**.
3. Beside **Shopify App Store listing**, click **Manage listing**.
4. Under **Published languages**, click **Edit** for the locale you want to update.
5. Under **Pricing content**, click **Manage** to open the Pricing index page.
6. Under **Public plans**, click **Add** to open the plan editor.
7. Under **Billing**, select whether the plan is free, monthly, yearly, or monthly with a yearly option.
8. (If required) Under **Monthly charge**, enter a price.
9. (If required) Under **Yearly charge**, enter a price.
10. (Optional) Under **Free trial duration**, enter the number of days you want to offer.
11. (Optional) Under **Welcome link**, add a path or URL where the merchant will be redirected after approving the plan charge.
12. Click **Save**.

### Step 2: Add plan descriptions for each language

Public plans share the same billing model and price details across all your app listings. But plan descriptions are localized, so that you can translate the plan name and its list of top features for each locale.

1. From your Partner Dashboard, click **Apps > All Apps** and click the name of the app you want to update pricing for.
2. Click **Distribution**.
3. Beside **Shopify App Store listing**, click **Manage listing**.
4. Under **Published languages**, click **Edit** for the locale you want to update.
5. Under **Pricing content**, find your recently added or updated plan.
6. Under **Display name**, give the plan a name.
7. Under **Top features**, describe the app features available under this plan.
8. Click **Save**.

Make sure to add plan descriptions for each translated app listing. A plan will only display to merchants if it has a description for the current language.

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## Proration logic

### Plan downgrading

Downgrading from a paid plan to a free plan is deferred, meaning it's effective at the end of the paid plan's current cycle.

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## Next steps

* Learn about [usage-based subscriptions](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/launch/billing/shopify-app-pricing/subscription-billing/setup-usage-charges)
* [Combine time and usage](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/launch/billing/shopify-app-pricing/subscription-billing/combined-subscription-and-usage) for hybrid pricing
* Offer [free trials](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/launch/billing/shopify-app-pricing/subscription-billing/offer-free-trials) to increase conversions

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