Automatic Renewals

Automatic Renewals charges each customer's saved payment method when their subscription is due, so recurring revenue keeps flowing without manual work.

What this does

On a schedule, SubscriptionFlow finds subscriptions that are due to renew and attempts an off‑session charge against the payment method the customer saved at checkout (PayPal or Stripe). Successful charges extend the subscription automatically; failed charges move into a grace period with a chance to recover.

Why it exists: manual renewals lose revenue every time a customer forgets. Automatic renewals make your subscription business truly hands‑off.

Benefits

Predictable, recurring income.
No chasing customers to re‑purchase.
Fewer accidental lapses and support requests.

What you need first

An active Pro license — see License Activation.
A payment gateway that supports saved (off‑session) payments:
- SubscriptionFlow PayPal (PayPal Vault), or
- Stripe Renewals.
Customers must have checked out with that gateway, so a reusable payment method is stored for them.

How to set it up

Step 1 — Activate Pro. Enter your license under SubscriptionFlow → License.

Step 2 — Enable a gateway. Configure the SubscriptionFlow PayPal gateway and/or Stripe so customers can pay with a method that can be charged again later.

Step 3 — Sell as usual. When customers check out with a supported gateway, their payment method is saved for renewals.

Step 4 — Let it run. SubscriptionFlow automatically processes due renewals on a recurring schedule — no manual action needed.

What happens at renewal time

SubscriptionFlow finds subscriptions that are due.
It attempts an off‑session charge on the saved payment method.
On success: the subscription renews and the license term extends automatically.
On failure: the subscription enters a grace period, and the customer can be sent a link to pay manually before it expires. See Grace Period & Expiry.

Tips & Best Practices

Set up the gateway before promoting subscriptions, so every new customer’s payment method is saved for renewals from day one.
Keep a grace period. It gives failed payments a chance to recover (expired card, temporary decline) before access is cut.
Encourage checkout with a supported gateway. Only saved (vaulted) methods can be charged automatically.
Monitor the Grace Period card on the dashboard to catch a rise in failed renewals early.
Test in sandbox first. Confirm a renewal charges correctly before relying on it for live customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this available on the Free plan?

No. Automatic renewals are a Pro feature. On Free, renewals are manual.

Which payment methods can be charged automatically?

Saved PayPal (via Vault) and Stripe payment methods captured at checkout. A customer must have paid with one of these for auto‑renewal to work.

What if a renewal payment fails?

The subscription enters a grace period; the customer keeps access for the grace days and can be prompted to pay. If unresolved, it expires.

Do customers get charged without warning?

Renewals follow the plan they purchased. It’s good practice to make renewal terms clear at checkout and on the dashboard.

Can a customer stop automatic renewals?

Yes — cancelling (self‑service on Pro, or by an admin) stops future charges. See Cancellations.

Does this work with my other WooCommerce gateways?

Automatic charging uses SubscriptionFlow’s PayPal/Stripe integrations. The initial checkout can still use your normal gateways, but only saved methods from supported gateways renew automatically.

What happens to lifetime products?

They never renew, so automatic renewals don’t apply to them.