The problem
Subscriptions are the easiest way for a store to grow repeat revenue, but many subscription apps feel bolted on and confuse customers at checkout.
What I built
- Plans: merchants choose products, delivery frequency and discount, with a live preview.
- Storefront widget: a clear “one-time or subscribe” choice on the product page, built as a theme app extension.
- Customer portal: customers manage their own subscriptions, including skipping and pausing deliveries, without emailing the store.
- Billing and analytics: scheduled billing runs and a view of subscriber numbers and revenue.
Going through Shopify review
Shopify reviews every public app for permissions, billing, performance and how it behaves on a real storefront. Reviewers ask for evidence: why each permission is needed, a working demo login, and proof that discounts carry through to checkout. Preparing that evidence is part of the build.
What I learned
- Ask for the fewest permissions. Every permission has to be justified, so design for the minimum from the start.
- Reviewers are users too. Give them a login that just works and a clear path through the app.
- Test on a real theme. A storefront widget has to work on themes you didn’t write.