Hi @Ryanmue
Managing a subscription model with dynamic capacity management like this is a bit tricky, as most subscription apps focus more on recurring payments than capacity or inventory updates across future months. Here’s what you can do:
Subscription Apps That Could Work (With Tweaks):
1-Appstle Subscriptions
Appstle is one of the best for flexible payment plans (monthly vs. upfront) and tiered pricing, but it doesn’t directly support dynamic capacity management. However, you can integrate Appstle with Zapier or a custom backend system to manage inventory updates for future months.
2-Recharge Subscriptions
Recharge offers flexibility with pricing and payment plans and has a robust API. With custom development, you could sync Recharge’s subscription data with your inventory system to manage monthly capacity.
3-Bold Subscriptions
Bold supports multi-month plans and flexible payment options. While it doesn’t natively handle capacity management, its API can be paired with Shopify’s inventory system for custom solutions.
Custom App or Automation as the Best Option
If no app fully meets your requirements, a custom app or combining tools might be necessary. Here’s how you can handle this:
1-Use Zapier for Automation:
- Connect your subscription app (e.g., Appstle, Recharge) to a Google Sheet or database that tracks monthly capacity.
- Each time a plan is purchased, Zapier can deduct the correct number of spots from the appropriate months.
- Update your store’s availability dynamically via a custom script or app.
2-Custom Shopify App:
- A custom app can integrate with Shopify and automatically update monthly capacities based on the subscription plan purchased.
- It would handle:
- Deducting spots for future months.
- Showing real-time availability.
- Managing payments and billing cycles.
3-Hybrid Approach:
- Use an app like Recharge or Bold for managing subscriptions.
- Pair it with a custom script or Shopify Functions (if your store uses Shopify Plus) to handle inventory updates for future months.
Key Considerations for Implementation:- Data Synchronization: If you’re managing capacity in external tools like Google Sheets, make sure it syncs with your store in real-time to avoid overselling.
- Customer Communication: Clearly display available spots for each month during checkout to improve user experience.
- Scalability: As your business grows, ensure the solution can handle larger volumes of subscribers and manage more complex capacity needs.
Code Demonstration (For Custom Inventory Updates in Shopify):
Here’s a basic example of a custom Shopify script that adjusts future capacity:
const updateCapacity = (subscriptionPlan, months) => {
const today = new Date();
const capacity = {}; // Example: { “Jan-2025”: 7, “Feb-2025”: 7 }
for (let i = 0; i < months; i++) {
const futureMonth = new Date(today.getFullYear(), today.getMonth() + i + 1, 1);
const monthKey = ${futureMonth.toLocaleString('default', { month: 'short' })}-${futureMonth.getFullYear()};
if (capacity[monthKey] && capacity[monthKey] > 0) {
capacity[monthKey] -= 1;
} else {
console.error(“No capacity available for:”, monthKey);
}
}
return capacity; // Updated capacity
};
This can be part of a backend system that communicates with Shopify or your subscription app’s API.
Final Recommendation
A custom app or automation using Zapier paired with a subscription app like Appstle or Recharge is likely your best bet. This allows you to leverage the robust subscription features while handling capacity management dynamically.
If you need any other assistance, feel free to reply and I will try my best to respond.
Best regards,
Daisy