Subscription management software provides app owners with an overview of all the activities within their customers’ subscriptions. It also automates billing cycles for various subscription revenue models, helping marketers boost subscription revenue, acquire more users and reduce churn rates significantly.
Featured Subscription Management Software
Platforms that manage subscriptions will do the heavy lifting for you, allowing you to pursue new business models that offer dynamic pricing and access options for your customers. Thus, subscriptions can positively contribute to user retention as well as effective app engagement solutions, with your mobile app seeing a new wave of traction.
In this guide, we will run you through the common features of a subscription management software, the reasons why this in-app purchasing concept is important, and how top subscription management platforms can help you manage your mobile app and its revenue recognition more efficiently.
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What is subscription management?
Starting broad, let us define what subscription management is first and foremost. It describes the concept of managing your users’ subscriptions, ensuring that it is a smooth process for the customer and for the app owner. Supporting the dynamics of signing up, purchasing and maintaining various models and packages, subscription management is a complex system that requires constant monitoring and tracking to make sure there is an efficient and accurate process in place.
Then, there is subscription pricing, which is commonly included in subscription models and the general management. Subscription pricing contributes directly to revenue generation, providing access to advanced services or products after a purchase has been made for specific billable time periods, for example, monthly, quarterly or annually.
Subscription management software example
Source: Recurly
Subscription management software: core features
Pricing models, subscription billing applications and subscription packages need to be managed constantly in order to keep users engaged and subscriptions in place. A subscription management software therefore enables a better overview of the incoming revenue, subscription sign ups and data dashboards to better analyze and track progress.
In essence, subscription management software handles the billing and sales side of things when it comes to mobile app subscriptions. So, the tool typically combines automated payment functionalities and user subscription information, and takes on the responsibility to manage and track these. And subscription management platforms ensure stored payment information is valid and purchases run smoothly.
A subscription management software provides insights into conversion rates and other performance metrics, using analytics and data dashboards. More advanced platforms are also starting to offer extended features, such as marketing and sales solutions as well as marketing campaign activities that are based on subscription progresses and levels.
The best subscription management software
Subscription management software is a tool (or platform) designed to help app owners manage and automate the processes related to recurring billing and subscription-based services.
These software solutions are primarily used by companies that offer subscription models, where customers pay a recurring fee (monthly, annually) in exchange for access to mobile products, services, or digital content. The software helps streamline billing, payments, customer subscriptions, invoicing, and account management for both the business and the customer.
We’ve listed the best subscription management software below.
1. RevenueCat
RevenueCat is a subscription management and billing platform that helps developers manage in-app subscriptions for mobile apps and websites. It simplifies the process of building, scaling, and optimizing subscription-based businesses by handling recurring billing, subscription management, entitlements, and analytics.
The platform is especially useful for mobile app developers who offer subscription-based services (such as SaaS apps, media streaming, eCommerce, and gaming apps) and want to manage user subscriptions without building complex backend infrastructure.
Overview
RevenueCat was founded in 2017 by Jacob Eiting and Kurtis Heimerl. The company was created to simplify subscription management for mobile app developers, providing an easy way to handle in-app subscriptions and recurring billing.
Notable clients include companies like Calm, Shopify, and Toca Boca, who rely on its platform to manage in-app subscriptions and recurring billing.
Services
RevenueCat provides its customers with the following services:
- Automates recurring billing for auto-renewing and non-renewing subscriptions on mobile (iOS, Android) and web platforms
- Manages subscriptions across multiple platforms from a single backend
- Enables unified subscription management for apps on iOS, Android, and web
2. Purchasely
Purchasely is a subscription management and in-app purchase platform designed to help app developers manage, optimize, and grow their subscription-based businesses. It provides tools for recurring billing, in-app purchases, entitlements, and customer lifecycle management.
Overview
Purchasely was founded in 2020 by Bastien Munsch and Nicolas Parraud. The company was created to help mobile app developers streamline the management of in-app subscriptions and optimize their subscription-based revenue models.
Notable clients include Molotov TV, LeKiosk, and Skeepers, who rely on the platform to streamline subscription management and boost revenue.
Services
Purchasely provides its customers with the following services:
- Automates recurring billing, renewal handling, and subscription lifecycle management across iOS, Android, and web platforms
- Simplifies the management of in-app purchases and subscriptions for apps on the App Store and Google Play
- Provides real-time insights into revenue, churn rates, customer lifetime value (known as LTV), and other key performance metrics to optimize subscription strategies
3. Qonversion
Qonversion is a subscription management and in-app purchase platform designed to help app developers manage, optimize, and grow their subscription-based revenue. It provides tools for handling recurring billing, user entitlements, analytics, and payment processing.
Overview
Qonversion was founded in 2019 by Andrey Budaev and Pavel Gretchichkin. The platform was created to simplify subscription management for mobile app developers and businesses that rely on in-app purchases and recurring billing.
Notable clients include BetterMe, Muscle Booster, and Bloomberg, who use the platform to manage subscriptions and optimize revenue.
Services
Qonversion provides its customers with the following services:
- Manages user access to premium features (or content) based on their active subscriptions, ensuring the correct entitlements get granted
- Automates recurring billing, subscription renewals, and handling of in-app purchases across iOS, Android, and web platforms
- Provides real-time insights into revenue, conversion rates, churn, lifetime value, and other subscription metrics to optimize business strategies
4. Recurly
Recurly is a subscription billing and management platform designed to help businesses manage recurring revenue models. It provides a set of tools to automate processes like subscription billing, invoicing, payment processing, customer retention, and analytics, with a focus on flexibility and scalability.
The platform supports businesses across various industries, including SaaS, media, eCommerce, and apps, offering features such as customizable pricing models, subscription trials, dunning management for failed payments, and tax management. The platform integrates with major payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and Braintree.
Overview
Recurly was founded in 2010 by Jared Ingersoll and Ryan Lazanis. The company was created to provide businesses with a robust platform for managing subscription billing and recurring revenue models, offering automation, analytics, and integrations to optimize the subscription lifecycle.
Notable clients include Zendesk, Blue Apron, ClassPass, AMC Theatres, and Rackspace, all of whom use Recurly for subscription billing and recurring revenue management. Other clients, such as SurveyMonkey, Birchbox, and Drizly, leverage the platform to streamline payments, customer retention, and subscription models.
Services
Recurly provides its customers with the following services:
- Integrates with leading payment gateways such as Stripe, PayPal, Braintree, and Authorize.Net, ensuring smooth transaction processing
- Handles failed payments, retries, and dunning management to recover lost revenue from missed payments and prevent churn
- Provides real-time insights into key metrics such as churn, revenue, customer lifetime value, and conversion rates, enabling data-driven decision-making
5. Adapty
Adapty is a platform that helps businesses optimize their subscription-based models and provides tools for managing in-app purchases, subscription billing, and improving overall user retention. Adapty’s services are particularly useful for mobile apps and digital products that rely on recurring revenue, such as subscription plans or paywalls.
Adapty allows businesses to run A/B tests on pricing, subscription offers, and other strategies to find the most effective ways to boost conversions and user retention, as well as providing detailed analytics to help you understand customer behaviour.
Overview
Adapty was founded in 2019 by Pavel Kukhnavets. Pavel is a tech entrepreneur with experience in the mobile and app development industries. The company was created to address the challenges businesses face when managing and optimizing subscription-based services, particularly for mobile apps.
Since its founding, Adapty has grown to provide tools for subscription management, A/B testing, and revenue optimization.
Services
Adapty provides its customers with the following services:
- Provides detailed analytics to help businesses understand customer behaviour, lifetime value (LTV), churn rates, and other key performance metrics
- Uses machine learning to help businesses maximize their revenue by recommending the best pricing and offering strategies based on user data
- Can be integrated with various mobile app development platforms, such as iOS and Android, and third-party tools, such as analytics services
6. Madduck
Madduck is a creative agency that specializes in the development of mobile apps and digital products. The company is known for working with both startups and established companies to design and build innovative digital experiences with a focus on user-centred design and functionality.
The team creates custom mobile apps for iOS and Android platforms, specializing in building high-performance, user-friendly apps as well as creating attractive and intuitive designs that offer a great user experience.
Overview
Madduck was founded in 2016 by Tarek Nasser. Tarek is an entrepreneur with a background in tech and product design. He established Madduck to provide creative and innovative solutions for mobile app and web development, as well as user experience (known as UX) design.
Since its founding, the agency has worked with a variety of different clients, from startups to large enterprises, to help create impactful products. Madduck is based in New York City, and it has quickly gained recognition for its high-quality design.
Services
Madduck provides its customers with the following services:
- Helps companies integrate subscription models directly into their mobile apps, allowing for payment processing, recurring billing, and subscription handling
- Develops web-based products, often integrating these solutions with their mobile app offerings
- Helps you to refine your product strategies, providing insights into market research, user needs, and the overall product development process
7. Paddle
Paddle is a payment platform that helps you manage your sales, subscriptions, and billing. It provides a comprehensive solution for companies that sell software products, especially those offering SaaS (known as software as a service) or other subscription-based mobile app services.
The platform helps you to manage recurring billing and subscriptions and offers flexibility for one-time purchases, trials, and upsells. It also automates renewal reminders, invoicing, and payment failures to ensure an efficient subscription experience for your customers.
Overview
Paddle was founded in 2012 by Christian Owens and Hywel Evans. The company was created to provide a simplified (and more efficient) payment processing and subscription management solution for SaaS businesses, addressing the challenges developers face with handling payments, taxes, and distribution.
Owens, specifically, who had experience in the tech and startup sectors, saw the need for a platform that would reduce the complexity of managing payments, taxes, and customer subscriptions, especially for small and mid-sized companies.
Services
Paddle provides its customers with the following services:
- Built-in fraud detection to protect against payment fraud and ensures secure transactions with PCI-compliant systems
- Provides businesses with tools to manage affiliates and partners, tracking commissions, sales, and payment distribution for referral programs
- Offers tools for managing subscriptions and customer interactions, such as automated billing notifications, refunds, and cancellations
Why is subscription management important?
Subscription management is an evolving concept that allows marketers and app owners to manage the additional revenue that comes from app subscriptions, including customer contracts and payment information. Subscription management platforms are therefore crucial for budget planning, managing resources and app valuation, efficiently monitoring and analyzing revenues.
While subscription management can be complex and challenging in nature, it makes the financial and accounting aspects of your mobile app a lot easier, enabling customers to manage or cancel their subscriptions at any time, which generally requires constant tracking of these actions.
These factors may seem obvious as to why subscription management is so important for the sustainability of your business. But let’s dive into more detailed benefits of subscription management, how they tie into practice and what impact software has on app marketing campaigns.
Boost revenue
Subscription-based apps mainly rely on conversion data to spend their budget wisely, so subscription management software therefore helps app owners gather accurate revenue data, synchronizing with CRM, ERP and other licensing systems. They also conduct ongoing reporting to validate payment information and users’ subscription accounts.
These features will also allow marketers to identify more revenue opportunities by understanding purchase patterns and trends as well as which variables are working best and converting more.
Keep track of recurring revenues
As mentioned, measuring and tracking revenues is an important success factor, as they change with every amendment in pricing models, user upgrades and so on. Customers are always managing their subscription accounts.
Subscription management solutions can monitor the lifetime-value of a large number of customers, with specialist tools to facilitate the tracking process significantly.
Foresee future business plans
Having automated processes in place, and being aware of your pricing plans and how they contribute to the contracted revenue by customers, you can make informed decisions on long term business plans that will most-likely lead to success.
A subscription management software is also great for understanding what contributes to the growth of your app, using key metrics, such as new sales, upsales and churn. With platforms allowing you to dissect and analyze revenue changes, marketers can better determine success factors, including what is working for the campaign and what features need to be eliminated.
Software management software example
Source: Purchasely
Optimize pricing models
Adding to the point of identifying success factors, subscription management solutions can help tweak and improve your pricing packages. They typically integrate systems that will automatically renew invoice amounts and review pricing plans correctly, minimizing room for error.
Getting insights into how much revenue is generated through subscriptions allows marketers to optimize their pricing strategies to keep the conversion rates steady over time.
Enhance app engagement
Understanding what is causing your revenue to grow allows you not only to optimize pricing models correctly, but also to enhance app engagement consequently.
Once users are acquired and subscribe to a plan, a subscription management software not only renews plans automatically and generates accurate invoices, but it allows app owners to keep track of how customers are managing their plans. They can then actively come up with strategies to keep them engaged in the app and its services, increasing retention more efficiently.
Subscription management solutions can simplify your workflow, gather quality data and contribute to a more enhanced automation of services, which is essential in today’s evolving digitized space. Using such platforms for your app business reduces tedious management, which is highly beneficial, especially when dealing with a larger number of customers at a time.
Top Subscription Management Software
| Paddle | Paddle helps app companies get paid from anywhere to grow everywhere | View more |
How does a subscription management software work?
Subscription management concepts are designed to make the most out of the purchases customers make, creating more opportunities for additional revenue by allocating business resources into various subscription models. So, in order to fully maximize value for the customer and app owner, subscription models need continuous monitoring and maintenance to ensure, for example, that purchases are made currently and customers are satisfied.
Moreover, dataflows must be accurate, allowing users and customer services representatives to start, modify or cancel a subscription, and enabling proper revenue recognition and consistency. Thus, a subscription management software lowers the risk of crushing a mobile app’s financial health and effectively losing customer loyalty and trust.
Subscription management solutions also share CRM data across apps seamlessly, with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, allowing businesses to maximize customer lifetime value, enhance user experience and boost revenue, which creates more room for further innovation.
Data collection is the prime focus in subscription models, including recurring revenue that is generated by such a concept. However, subscription management platforms also offer the following staple features:
Subscription management software features
How can you benefit from subscription management software?
With the common features that we now know are vital characteristics when looking for top subscription management software for your business, let us dive into the benefits of these platforms and software.
Subscription management software example
Source: Paddle
Secure payments
As mentioned earlier, when dealing with subscriptions, payment information is very sensitive and should be treated with security, especially to maintain trust with your customers. Moreover, saving these details also makes it easier for users to make their purchase and keep up with any recurring payments, each month or year.
Subscription management platforms keep payment details safe, making it also a lot easier to upgrade subscription plans too.
Less manual management
With a subscription management software, users can manage their own subscriptions as well as schedule payments, manage payment methods, and edit their account and subscription plan. Such self-service options do the heavy lifting for you, without you having to waste valuable time on, for example, manually creating invoices or verifying payment details.
Set up additional offers
If you are offering additional services on your app, like free trials, to attract more potential customers and convince them to jump on a subscription plan, management platforms can help you implement such offers easily, and also track their performance in real-time. This way you can refine any service offerings accordingly, with accurate analytics data too.
Higher user engagement
The benefits of subscription management platforms also entail increased customer retention rates. When a customer signs up for a subscription plan, this instantly boosts user engagement, as they are more likely to become a regular paying customer.
Moreover, when a user agrees to a payment plan to further interact with your mobile app, the chances they will engage more with unlocked features increases – and recurring revenue goes up as well.
Work with a top subscription management software
Subscription management platforms can significantly increase customer retention and boost conversion rates. Providing a data overview and effective management tools to have more control over your subscription plans all make a subscription management software a key contributor to the long term success of your mobile app.
There are several subscription management software available on the market. So, with the information we now have on what a good platform should offer, we have put together a list of the top subscription management software for you to choose from, with platforms to suit the unique needs of your app and align with your business goals.
