Selling hardware (one time) plus recurring subscriptions

Shopify Discussion
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Topic summary

Core Setup Question:
A user wants to sell 22 hardware products (one-time purchases) alongside 1 annual software subscription on Shopify, asking if this dual model is feasible.

Confirmed Feasibility:

  • This setup is fully possible using third-party subscription apps (Recharge, Bold Subscriptions, PayWhirl)
  • Different products can be managed separately: hardware through standard Shopify orders, subscriptions through the app
  • Customer accounts will display both purchase types, though subscription management happens within the app’s interface

Revenue Tracking:

  • Shopify’s native reporting handles one-time sales well but has limited subscription forecasting
  • Subscription apps provide metrics like projected recurring revenue, churn rate, and subscription duration
  • Advanced tools (Lifetimely, ProfitWell) or Shopify Plus offer deeper financial insights

Related Follow-up:
Another user asked about bundling hardware with subscriptions—offering a device at reduced upfront cost when paired with a monthly software subscription. This hybrid model (one-time hardware + recurring software) appears less commonly supported by standard subscription apps, which typically focus on recurring physical product deliveries rather than hardware-software bundles.

Status: The original question is answered; the bundled pricing model remains an open question requiring further app research.

Summarized with AI on October 31. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hi everyone

I want to create a Shopify infrastructure that

  • lists 22x hardware items that can be purchased one time, going through the usual Shopify orders process

  • lists 1x software subscriptions that need to be able to recur annually - thus I imagine needing a Subscription App

Questions:

  • Is this possible?

  • Can different products be allocated to different apps (and thus fulfilment is managed differently)

  • Would a returning customer be able to see the original hardware purchase, and the recurring subscription in their My Account area, and manage accordingly?

  • Would Shopify reporting help in forecasting revenue for the subscription?

Any help is hugely appreciated - we have the hardware all listed, but need your help before we try and list the subscription software, thanks

2

Hi @adamp29

Thanks for sharing your setup and questions. It sounds like you’ve already got your hardware products listed and are now looking to integrate a recurring subscription for your software. Let’s break this down and make sure everything aligns smoothly.

1. Is this possible?

Yes, absolutely! Shopify allows you to sell both one-time purchase products (hardware) and recurring subscription-based products (software). Since Shopify doesn’t have built-in subscription functionality, you’ll need a third-party subscription app (like Recharge, Bold Subscriptions, or PayWhirl) to handle recurring billing. These apps integrate directly with Shopify Checkout and let you charge customers automatically on a schedule (in your case, annually).

2. Can different products be allocated to different apps (and thus fulfillment is managed differently)?

Yes, Shopify lets you manage fulfillment differently for different product types. You can:

  • Keep your hardware items under Shopify’s default order system (which you likely already have set up).
  • Use a Subscription App to manage the recurring software billing.

Each app will handle its own products, fulfillment processes, and orders separately, so there won’t be any conflict. Most subscription apps allow you to set different rules for fulfillment, meaning your physical products won’t interfere with the subscription service.

3. Would a returning customer be able to see the original hardware purchase and the recurring subscription in their My Account area and manage accordingly?

Yes, but with some conditions. Shopify’s standard customer account page doesn’t natively support managing subscriptions. However, most subscription apps provide a “Manage Subscription” option that customers can access from their accounts. So:

  • Customers will see their past hardware purchases in Order History inside Shopify.
  • For the subscription, they’ll typically need to access the subscription portal (which is managed by your subscription app).

Most apps allow you to embed the “Manage Subscription” link directly into the Shopify account page so users can update payment details, cancel, or modify their subscriptions without confusion.

4. Would Shopify reporting help in forecasting revenue for the subscription?

Yes, but with limitations. Shopify’s built-in reports can track one-time hardware sales easily, but subscription revenue forecasting is limited unless you use an advanced analytics tool.

Most subscription apps provide detailed insights, such as:

  • Projected Recurring Revenue (how much you’ll make in upcoming months)
  • Churn Rate (how many customers cancel subscriptions)
  • Average Subscription Duration

If you want deeper financial forecasting, Shopify’s Advanced Reports (on Shopify Plus) or third-party tools like Lifetimely or ProfitWell can provide better revenue insights.

Final Thoughts

Your setup is 100% possible, and many businesses already do this. You just need a good subscription app that integrates seamlessly with your store. If you’re unsure, test out a few apps (most offer trials) before making a decision.

If you need extra help, just let me know asap. Thanks!
Daisy.

3

Hey,

is it also possible to have a one-time hardware purchase, which at the same time starts a monthly subscription?

Let’s say in my shop I want to have a Hardware-Product. Customer can buy it as one-time purchasement for a high price. But I also want the option that customer can buy it with a cheaper one-time purchasement, but then a monthly subscription is automatically included.

Is this also possible? I found, that most subscription apps are good for recurring hardware-orders, like socks or what… but not for something like a one-time-hardware + mothly-software-subscription

Best