Selling subscriptions on Shopify is done with a subscription app that adds "subscribe and save" or prepaid subscription options to your products. Shopify's own free app, Shopify Subscriptions, is the simplest way to do this. However, for recurring payments to be charged automatically, your store needs to use one of a specific set of payment providers, and these are generally not available in Turkey. That's why setting up subscriptions for a store in Turkey needs different planning from a store abroad.
In this article we explain how subscriptions work on Shopify, what they require and the routes stores in Turkey can use to build a subscription-like model.
How do subscriptions work on Shopify?
On Shopify, subscriptions are built on "purchase options" (selling plans). When you install a subscription app, subscription options appear on the product page alongside one-time purchase. When a customer chooses a subscription, their payment details are stored, and a new order is created and charged automatically at the intervals you set.
The two most common subscription types:
Subscribe and save: the customer pays for each delivery (for example, once a month) and gets a discount for subscribing. It's common for regularly consumed products such as coffee, cosmetics, supplements and pet food.
Prepaid subscription: the customer pays upfront for several deliveries (for example, 3 or 6 months), and products are sent regularly over the period. It also works well for gift subscriptions.
The Shopify Subscriptions app
Shopify Subscriptions is a free subscription app developed by Shopify itself. It lets you create weekly, monthly or yearly subscriptions, set subscription discounts and let customers manage their subscriptions (skip, pause, cancel) from their accounts. For more complex needs (subscription boxes, customisable bundles, an advanced customer portal), there are also third-party subscription apps in the Shopify App Store.
Requirements for subscriptions
To use Shopify's subscription infrastructure, your store must use one of the payment providers that support recurring payments. The providers Shopify lists include Shopify Payments, PayPal Express, Authorize.net and Stripe; Stripe is only available to some merchants. This requirement applies to both Shopify Subscriptions and third-party subscription apps.
Here's the picture for Turkey:
Shopify Payments: not available to businesses registered in Turkey.
PayPal: doesn't operate in Turkey.
Stripe and Authorize.net: not available to businesses based in Turkey.
As a result, a store in Turkey using iyzico, PayTR or a bank virtual POS can't take automatic recurring payments with Shopify's built-in subscription infrastructure. We cover the status of Shopify Payments in Turkey in detail in our Shopify Payments article.
Options for stores in Turkey
1. Subscriptions through a store abroad
If you sell subscription products to customers abroad, opening a separate store through a company based in a country where Shopify Payments is supported is the way to use Shopify Subscriptions in full. We recommend planning the company formation and tax side with a financial adviser. We cover the technical side in our article on clone sites.
2. Custom integration with the payment provider's subscription infrastructure
Some Turkish payment providers, such as iyzico, have their own recurring payment (subscription) products. Connecting this infrastructure to Shopify is possible by developing a custom app: the subscription payment is charged by the payment provider, and the app creates an order in Shopify for each successful payment. This route is flexible but requires development and maintenance. We discuss how custom payment integrations are designed in our custom payment gateway integration guide.
3. A repeat purchase flow without automatic payments
The way to get close to a subscription experience without technical investment is to make repeat purchases easy:
Reminder emails and SMS timed to when the product runs out
A one-click link to repeat the same order
Exclusive discount codes and loyalty points for regular customers
Multi-buy and bundle discounts
In this model the customer pays each time, but with well-timed reminders the repeat purchase rate can be increased significantly. We explain how to set up email automations in our Omnisend email marketing guide.
Things to consider when designing subscriptions
Easy cancellation and changes: letting customers easily skip, pause and cancel their subscription lowers the cancellation rate in the long run.
Distance selling and consumer law: for recurring payments, pre-contract information and consent processes must comply with consumer law. We recommend getting legal advice on this.
Stock and logistics planning: as subscription orders are created in batches on set days, plan your stock and shipping capacity accordingly.
Failed payments: set up automatic notifications and a card update flow for customers whose cards expire.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify Subscriptions free?
Yes, Shopify's own subscription app is free. But to use it, your store must use a supported payment provider.
Can I sell subscriptions with Shopify in Turkey?
Shopify's built-in subscription infrastructure can't take automatic recurring payments with providers commonly used in Turkey, such as iyzico or PayTR. The options for stores in Turkey are opening a separate store abroad, building a custom integration with the payment provider's subscription infrastructure, or setting up repeat purchase flows without automatic payments.
Do prepaid subscriptions work in Turkey?
Prepaid subscriptions set up with Shopify's subscription apps are subject to the same payment provider requirement. As an alternative, you can sell a package covering several months of deliveries as a one-time product and schedule shipments manually or with the help of an app.
Let's set up your subscription model together
A subscription model delivers regular revenue when combined with the right payment infrastructure and a well-designed customer experience. If you'd like to plan the best subscription structure for your store together, get in touch through our Shopify technical support page.
