Plainform

Learn how to create subscription products with recurring billing in Stripe.

Prerequisites

Stripe account set up
Basic understanding of Stripe products
Access to Stripe Dashboard

Steps

Create Subscription Product

Navigate to Stripe Dashboard:

https://dashboard.stripe.com/products

Click "Add product" and configure:

Product Details:

Name: Subscription plan name (e.g., "Pro Monthly", "Enterprise Annual")
Description: What's included in the subscription
Image: Optional product image

Pricing:

Pricing model: Standard pricing
Price: Monthly or annual amount
Billing period: Select "Recurring"
Billing interval: Choose frequency:
- Monthly
- Every 3 months
- Every 6 months
- Yearly

Create separate products for monthly and annual plans to offer both options to customers.

Configure Billing Settings

Trial Period (Optional):

Set trial days if offering a free trial
Example: 14 days, 30 days

Usage Type:

Licensed: Fixed price per billing period (most common)
Metered: Pay based on usage

Add Marketing Features

Marketing features are displayed as bullet points on your pricing cards. Add them in the Stripe Dashboard:

Scroll to "Marketing features" section
Click "Add feature"
Add feature descriptions for your subscription plan:

Unlimited projects
Priority support
Advanced analytics
Custom integrations
Team collaboration

These features will automatically appear on your pricing page as checkmark bullet points.

Highlight the most valuable features first. Keep each feature concise (3-5 words) and focus on customer benefits.

Test Subscription Flow

Start your development server:

npm run dev

Navigate to your pricing page and test the subscription:

Click "Get Started" on your subscription product
Complete checkout with test card: 4242 4242 4242 4242
Verify subscription is created in Stripe Dashboard

Use Stripe test mode for development. Test card numbers are available in Stripe's testing documentation.

Subscription Management

Subscriptions are automatically managed through Stripe webhooks. The app handles:

Subscription created: User gains access
Subscription updated: Plan changes reflected
Subscription canceled: Access revoked
Payment failed: User notified

Webhook handler location:

app/api/stripe/webhook/route.ts

Common Issues

Subscription Not Creating

Verify webhook endpoint is configured in Stripe Dashboard
Check that webhook secret is set in .env
Ensure the product has an active recurring price
Check browser console and server logs for errors

Customer Not Charged

Confirm the subscription is active in Stripe Dashboard
Verify payment method is valid
Check for failed payment events in Stripe Dashboard
Review webhook logs for payment failures

Trial Not Working

Ensure trial period is set on the price in Stripe Dashboard
Verify the subscription was created with trial settings
Check that the trial end date is correct in Stripe

Best Practices

Pricing Strategy:

Offer both monthly and annual options
Provide 15-20% discount for annual plans
Consider a free trial to reduce friction

Communication:

Send email confirmations for new subscriptions
Notify users before trial ends
Alert customers about failed payments

Cancellation:

Make cancellation easy to build trust
Offer pause or downgrade options
Collect feedback on why users cancel

Next Steps

Add Coupon - Create discount codes for subscriptions
Test Payments Locally - Test subscription webhooks
Customize Checkout - Customize the checkout experience

Create Stripe Subscription