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Head-to-head · Subscription Ecommerce Software

Shopify vs Recurly

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Shopify #2 in Subscription Ecommerce Software 9.0/10 3-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Shopify
Recurly #8 in Subscription Ecommerce Software 8.3/10 90-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Recurly

Shopify leads on 1 check, Recurly on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreShopify · 9.0/10
  • Lowest starting priceShopify · $29/mo
  • Free trialboth

Shopify scores higher on our rubric for subscription ecommerce software: 9.0 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.

Shopify is cheaper to start at $29/mo against $249/mo.

Shopify is the better fit for general ecommerce stores adding subscriptions. Recurly is the better fit for established subscription billing teams.

  • Shopify fits best

    General ecommerce stores adding subscriptions

  • Recurly fits best

    Established subscription billing teams

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Shopify 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Recurly 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.3
Ranking #2 in Subscription Ecommerce Software #8 in Subscription Ecommerce Software
Best for General ecommerce stores adding subscriptions Established subscription billing teams
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price $29/mo (best) $249/mo
Free plan — —
Free trial 3 days 90 days
Free trial length 3 days · no card needed 90 days
Deployment Cloud, Browser extension Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Integrations 4 integrations 9 integrations
Features Shopify 0/5 · Recurly 0/5
Subscriber portal Not checked yet Not checked yet
Pause or skip Not checked yet Not checked yet
Prepaid plans Not checked yet Not checked yet
Payment recovery Not checked yet Not checked yet
Native storefront Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Product types Not checked yet Not checked yet
Billing intervals Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Online, social, marketplace, and in-person selling channels
  • Inventory, fulfillment, checkout, payments, and analytics in one platform
  • Shopify App Store apps and APIs extend the platform
  • Recurring billing, invoicing, retries, and dunning in one platform
  • Supports multi-currency pricing and more than 20 payment gateways
  • Connects with tax, accounting, ERP, API, webhook, and mobile tools
Cons
  • No free plan; the current trial lasts 3 days
  • Subscription operations are not described among the core features
  • Transaction-fee treatment varies by country, provider, and plan
  • Starter begins at $249 per month
  • No permanent free plan
  • The product focuses on subscription billing rather than general invoicing
Our verdict

Shopify is a hosted commerce platform for entrepreneurs, retailers, small teams, and larger brands. It combines storefront creation, checkout and payment processing, product and inventory management, order fulfillment, shipping tools,…

Read the review →

Recurly is a subscription management platform for businesses selling recurring products or services. Its capabilities cover subscription plan configuration, recurring billing, automated and manual invoicing, online payments, payment…

Read the review →
  1. ShopifySubscription Ecommerce Software 9.03-day trial
  2. RecurlySubscription Ecommerce Software 8.390-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Shopify — where it wins

    • Online, social, marketplace, and in-person selling channels
    • Inventory, fulfillment, checkout, payments, and analytics in one platform
    • Shopify App Store apps and APIs extend the platform

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; the current trial lasts 3 days
    • Subscription operations are not described among the core features
    • Transaction-fee treatment varies by country, provider, and plan

  • Recurly — where it wins

    • Recurring billing, invoicing, retries, and dunning in one platform
    • Supports multi-currency pricing and more than 20 payment gateways
    • Connects with tax, accounting, ERP, API, webhook, and mobile tools

    Where it doesn't

    • Starter begins at $249 per month
    • No permanent free plan
    • The product focuses on subscription billing rather than general invoicing

More comparisons

All subscription ecommerce software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update