[2026] A thorough comparison of the pricing and features of Shopify subscription apps in Japan

Who and what benefits does introducing a subscription have? On the other hand, are there any disadvantages...?

• Recurring Income: subscription services can be a stable and predictable source of income, contributing to the financial stability of your e-commerce site.

• Increased Customer Retention: subscriptions can increase loyalty and repeat rates, improve customer retention, and reduce churn.

• Inventory Planning: subscription models allow for more accurate inventory planning and management, reducing the risk of stockouts or overstocking.

• Customer Support: Offering dedicated customer support for subscription inquiries, modifications, or cancellations may require additional resources and effort.

• Revenue dependency: E-commerce sites that rely on subscriptions may face issues that impact their overall revenue if customer acquisition and retention rates decrease.

• Higher Customer Acquisition Costs: Acquiring new customers for subscriptions may require more marketing and promotion.

• Convenience: Subscriptions eliminate the need for multiple orders, allowing you to receive your products on schedule.

• Time-saving: With subscriptions, customers save time by not having to search for and purchase products multiple times.

• Cost Savings: subscriptions often offer discounts or lower prices compared to individual purchases, providing long-term cost savings.

• Commitment: typically requires a commitment to recurring payments, which may not be suitable for customers with fluctuating needs and preferences.

• Accumulation of Unused Items: If your subscriptions are not fully utilized, you may end up with a surplus of unused items.

• Potential for overbuying: You may end up buying more than you need due to fixed subscription quantities and delivery frequency.

To offer subscriptions on your Shopify store, you can leverage various apps and features designed specifically for subscription services. From the Shopify App Store, you can choose a subscription app that aligns with your business needs and requirements. Install and configure the app and integrate it seamlessly into your Shopify store. You can consider the frequency, duration, and pricing options that best suit your product or service and set up a subscription plan.

This time, we will pick up 5 Shopify subscription apps and select "Shopify Subscription", "GO SUB | We will compare the features and benefits of five apps: Subscriptions, Subscriptions, Mikawaya Subscriptions, and Easy Subscriptions, and see how they differ from each other.

• Shopify subscription

• GO SUB | Subscription

• regular purchase

• Mikawaya Subscription

• Easy subscription

feature

• Official Shopify app

• Intuitive operation

• Minimal options, non-customizable

Plan fees

• There is no additional fee for subscriptions.

Shopify Subscriptions is a subscription app officially offered by Shopify. The big advantage is that you can use the app completely free of charge.
There is almost no customization or scalability of subscription plans, so it is recommended for merchants who want to start subscribing first, as it requires minimal content.

feature

• Lowest cost

• Features for Japan are provided

• Japanese and English support is available.

• Built for Shopify Certified App as defined by Shopify

Plan fees

• Starter $0 per month, 2% commission

• GoSub 1 $39 per month, 0% commission (up to 500 subscriptions)

• GoSub 2 $59 per month, 0% commission (up to 501 to 1000 subscriptions)

• Other plansClick here

GO SUB offers the lowest fees in the industry and provides features and support for small and medium-sized businesses in Japan and businesses that want to introduce a subscription for the first time. You can easily set up and provide subscription plans, and there are functions related to Japan-specific e-commerce practices such as designated delivery dates and times, and you can link with apps such as delivery operations for Japan.

feature

• Feature-rich

• Support is available in Japanese

• Provides functions for the Japan market

Plan fees

• Standard $49 per month + 1% commission

• Enterprise $299 per month + 1% commission

Subscriptions offer a wide range of customizable subscription options, allowing businesses to tailor them to the specific needs and preferences of their customers. There are many functions for Japan, such as subscription boxes and member rankings, and the support and app are in Japanese. We also have a wide range of services that can be linked to Japan.

feature

• Feature-rich

• Support is available in Japanese

• There are many marketing services that can be linked.

Plan fees

• Light $12 per month + 3% commission

• Standard $49 per month + 1% commission

• Pro $499 per month + 1% commission

The company that runs Mikawaya has a track record of running its own store on Shopify and actually growing it. The app is also well-featured and offers support to cover common pitfalls with subscriptions. They also offer personalized support plans that cover everything from strategy planning to implementation assistance, although there are upfront and additional costs.

feature

• You can start with a low monthly cost

• Simple operation method

• Premium plan supports video calls

Plan fees

• Starter: $0 per month + 5% commission

• Lite: $15 per month + 3% commission

• Pro $49 per month + 1% commission

• $99 Premium + 1% commission

Easy Subscription is a subscription app that is easy to get started as the name suggests.
The premium plan also provides polite support through video calls, so even if you are worried about the operation, you can introduce it while consulting with us.

This is a table that only compares the prices of plans.

The functions available for each app and each rate plan are different, so please refer to them while comparing them with your budget.

What can each app do? Let's find out.

Except for Shopify subscriptions, basic features are present in all apps.

Again, except for Shopify subscriptions, basic features are present in all apps.

*For Shopify subscriptions, you will use Shopify's basic email templates.

Each other app has its own notification settings, and you can change the content. This email address is essential for your store's branding, but the sending domain defaults to the email address determined by the app. Only Go Sub allows customization on all plans.

The convenient BOX feature is also implemented except for Shopify subscriptions.

Subscription Mikawaya is equipped with sample functions and membership rank functions, allowing for a high degree of customization.

GoSub allows you to create custom tags and integrates with Shopify Flow to automate various tasks.

Choosing a subscription app that aligns with your business model and target customers is crucial for businesses in Japan looking to leverage their ongoing revenue model and increase customer loyalty. Subscription apps such as Go Sub, Subscriptions, Mikawaya Subscriptions, and Easy Subscriptions each have unique features tailored to the Japan market. These apps help merchants optimize their subscriptions and drive sustained growth.

We also recommend that you check the websites and documentation of each app to stay up to date.

GO SUB also offers a premium plan in addition to the starter plan. The premium plan is available for $39 per month, and there's no commission! If you have up to 500 subscriptions, you can use it for only $39 per month.

The Starter plan also costs $0 per month with a 2% commission, making it the lowest plan in the industry with only commissions! Both the Starter and Premium plans offer full functionality, so you can choose the plan that best suits your business model and revenue.

With GO SUB, you can easily and quickly add and set up subscription options for your Shopify store, so give it a try!

Updated: January 19, 2026