Basic
$39
/month
- + Website builder & customer management
- + Basic inventory (20 SKUs) & analytics
- + Upsells, discounts, 5 automation rules
- + 1 seat, 2 languages
Subbly
All-in-one subscription e-commerce platform built specifically for creating and managing subscription box businesses
ecommerce
Our Score
4.3
Starting at $39 /month
Try Subbly Free →
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4.3
RecommendedSubbly Score
Ease of Use
4.1
Features
4.2
Value
4.4
Support
4.0
Based on our editorial review across usability, features, value, support, and integrations.
Best For
Launching new subscription box businessesCurated product subscription services (beauty, snacks, books)Membership-based content and product businessesNiche subscription boxes seeking brand differentiationSolo founders and small teams without technical resources
Best For
Launching new subscription box businesses
Free Trial
No
Standout Feature
Complete subscription management and billing system
Track Record
Since 2013
What Problem It Solves
Subbly solves the complexity of building a subscription business on generic e-commerce platforms that were designed for one-time transactions. Instead of cobbling together multiple apps for subscription management, customer portals, and retention tools, Subbly provides an integrated solution purpose-built for recurring revenue. The platform particularly excels at helping non-technical founders launch subscription businesses quickly, reducing the technical barrier and ongoing maintenance overhead, while providing the subscriber experience features (customization, easy management, gift options) that drive retention and reduce churn.
Key Features
- Complete subscription management and billing system
- Customer portal for subscription management and preferences
- Box customization allowing subscribers to personalize contents
- Flexible subscription plans (monthly, quarterly, annual, prepaid)
- Abandoned cart recovery and retention automation
- Integrated email marketing and customer communication
- Analytics dashboard with subscriber metrics and churn tracking
Pros
- + Purpose-built for subscriptions with all necessary features included
- + No transaction fees unlike Shopify + subscription apps
- + Customer portal significantly reduces support inquiries
- + Box customization increases subscriber satisfaction and retention
- + Simpler to set up than generic platforms with plugins
Cons
- - Less flexible for non-subscription products
- - Smaller app ecosystem than major platforms
- - Template customization requires some technical knowledge
- - Reporting less advanced than enterprise subscription platforms
Pricing
Subbly
$79
/month
- + Custom checkout & own domain
- + Advanced analytics & unlimited surveys
- + Inventory management (100 SKUs)
- + 3 seats, 5 languages
Advanced
$159
/month
- + Customizable bundles
- + API access & white-label option
- + Advanced automation (100 rules)
- + 5 seats, unlimited languages
Starting at $39 /month
Try Subbly Free →
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Our Verdict
Subbly — Recommended
Subbly exists in a niche that most e-commerce platforms underserve: subscription-first businesses. While you can add subscription capabilities to Shopify through apps like Recharge or Bold Subscriptions, Subbly was built from the ground up for recurring revenue, and that architectural difference shows in every feature. After testing it for a subscription box concept, the platform delivers a noticeably smoother experience for both merchants and subscribers compared to plugin-based alternatives.
The subscriber portal is Subbly's standout feature. Customers can manage their own subscriptions, skip deliveries, swap products, update payment methods, and customize box contents without contacting support. During testing, this self-service capability alone would have eliminated roughly 40-50% of typical subscription box customer service inquiries. The box customization feature, where subscribers choose preferences or specific products, adds meaningful personalization that drives retention.
Setup is straightforward for non-technical founders. The website builder handles basic storefront needs, the subscription management system covers flexible billing scenarios (monthly, quarterly, annual, prepaid), and built-in tools for abandoned cart recovery, dunning management, and retention automation work out of the box. The analytics dashboard provides subscriber-specific metrics like churn rate, MRR, and lifetime value that generic e-commerce analytics miss.
Pricing is fair and notably includes zero transaction fees across all plans. The Micro plan at $19/month supports up to 200 active subscribers with full features, which is sufficient for validating a subscription concept. The Starter plan at $39/month extends to 500 subscribers, and the Pro at $79/month handles up to 2,000. This predictable cost structure means your margins do not erode as you scale, unlike platforms that take a percentage of each transaction.
The downsides are real, however. Subbly's template selection and design customization lag behind mainstream e-commerce platforms. The app ecosystem is tiny compared to Shopify. And if you sell a mix of subscription and one-time products, Subbly's subscription-centric architecture feels limiting.
The bottom line: Subbly is the best dedicated platform for launching a subscription box or membership business, especially for non-technical founders who want everything in one place without transaction fees. If subscriptions are your core business model, it beats cobbling together plugins on a general e-commerce platform.
Related Tools
Is Subbly good for small businesses?
Yes, Subbly is ideal for small businesses launching subscription box or membership businesses. The Micro plan ($19/month) supports up to 200 active subscribers with all core features—sufficient for testing your subscription concept and early growth. Importantly, there are no transaction fees on any plan, so your revenue scales without platform costs eating into margins. The all-in-one nature means you avoid the complexity and costs of managing multiple apps and plugins. The built-in subscriber portal, box customization, and dunning management tools handle the operational challenges that subscription businesses face from day one.
Does Subbly offer a free plan?
Subbly offers a 14-day free trial with full access to all features, allowing you to build your subscription store, test the subscriber experience, and process test transactions before committing to a paid plan. There is no permanent free plan. Paid plans start at $19/month for up to 200 active subscribers with no transaction fees. Given that subscriptions generate recurring revenue, the platform cost is typically 2-5% of monthly revenue for most successful subscription businesses. The trial period gives enough time to build a complete storefront and validate your subscription concept with real customer feedback.
What is the starting price of Subbly?
Subbly's paid plans start at $19/month for the Micro plan, which supports up to 200 active subscribers, includes all core features (subscription management, customer portal, box customization, analytics), and charges no transaction fees. The Starter plan at $39/month increases the limit to 500 subscribers and adds advanced features like dunning management, abandoned cart recovery, and priority support. The Pro plan at $79/month supports 2,000 subscribers with additional automation, customization options, and advanced analytics. All plans include the website builder, flexible billing options, and retention tools that make Subbly a complete subscription business platform.
Starting at $39 /month
Try Subbly Free →
Affiliate link
Try Subbly Free →
Affiliate link