Flexi Subscription works with WooCommerce payment gateways to process subscription purchases and recurring renewals. Choosing a payment gateway that supports recurring billing ensures renewals can be processed automatically, reducing manual work for both store owners and customers.
This guide explains the payment gateways supported by Flexi Subscription, their recurring payment capabilities, and recommendations for different subscription scenarios.
Overview #
Subscription products require a payment method that can handle recurring payments. While any WooCommerce payment gateway can be used to accept the initial subscription purchase, automatic renewals depend on whether the gateway supports recurring billing.
In general, payment gateways fall into two categories:
| Payment Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Automatic Recurring Payments | Charges customers automatically on each renewal date. |
| Manual Renewals | Customers must complete payment manually whenever a subscription renews. |
Note: Automatic recurring payments require a payment gateway that supports subscription billing.
WooCommerce Requirements #
Before configuring payment gateways, ensure you have:
- WordPress installed
- WooCommerce installed and activated
- Flexi Subscription installed and activated
- The desired payment gateway plugin installed and configured
Each payment gateway may have its own setup process, API credentials, and account requirements.
Supported Payment Gateways #
Stripe #
Stripe supports automatic recurring subscription payments and is one of the most commonly used payment gateways for subscription businesses.
Supported features include:
- Automatic recurring payments
- Secure payment tokenization
- Automatic renewal charging
- Subscription payment management
- Failed payment handling through Stripe
Recommended for:
- Membership websites
- SaaS products
- Digital subscriptions
- Service-based businesses
PayPal #
PayPal can be used for subscription products when recurring billing is supported by the configured PayPal integration.
Depending on your PayPal setup, supported features may include:
- Automatic recurring payments
- Secure customer authorization
- Scheduled renewal payments
Recommended for:
- International stores
- Customers who prefer PayPal
- Stores serving multiple countries
Razorpay #
Razorpay provides recurring payment support for eligible businesses and payment methods.
Available capabilities may include:
- Automatic recurring billing
- Secure recurring payment authorization
- Subscription renewal management
Recommended for:
- Businesses operating primarily in India
- Domestic subscription services
- Digital products and memberships
Important: Razorpay recurring payments are subject to regional regulations and account eligibility. Ensure your Razorpay account supports subscriptions before enabling recurring billing.
Gateway Comparison #
| Payment Gateway | Automatic Renewals | Manual Renewals | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Yes | Yes | Global subscription businesses |
| PayPal | Yes* | Yes | International customers |
| Razorpay | Yes* | Yes | Businesses in India |
* Availability depends on your gateway configuration, account type, and regional support.
Automatic vs Manual Renewals #
Choosing the right renewal method depends on your payment gateway.
Automatic Renewals #
Automatic renewals charge customers on the scheduled renewal date without requiring any additional action.
Benefits include:
- Reduced missed payments
- Consistent recurring revenue
- Improved customer experience
- Less administrative work
Automatic renewals require a payment gateway that supports recurring billing.
Manual Renewals #
Manual renewals generate a renewal order that the customer must pay manually.
This option works with any WooCommerce payment gateway but requires customer action for every renewal.
Manual renewals are useful when:
- Automatic recurring billing is unavailable.
- The payment gateway does not support subscriptions.
- Customers prefer paying each renewal individually.
Choosing the Right Payment Gateway #
Consider the following when selecting a payment gateway for subscriptions:
- Availability in your country
- Support for recurring payments
- Transaction fees
- Supported currencies
- Customer payment preferences
- Business requirements and compliance
If your business depends on uninterrupted recurring billing, choose a gateway that supports automatic subscription renewals.
Best Practices #
- Verify that your payment gateway supports recurring billing before launching subscription products.
- Complete the gateway setup and test payments in a staging environment.
- Use automatic renewals whenever possible to reduce missed payments.
- Keep API credentials up to date.
- Monitor failed renewal payments and resolve gateway issues promptly.
- Offer multiple payment methods when serving customers in different regions.
