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Which payment gateways work with subscriptions

Subscriptions charge your customers automatically on a schedule, so they need a payment gateway that can securely store a payment method and bill it again later. This guide explains which gateways work, what to do if yours isn't supported, and the most common gotchas (especially with PayPal).


Table of contents



How subscription payments work


Super Subscriptions uses Shopify's native subscription system. When a customer subscribes, their payment method is securely stored (vaulted) by the payment gateway, and Shopify charges it automatically on each renewal. This is why only gateways that support recurring, vaulted payments can be used for subscriptions — a gateway that only handles one-off payments can't be charged again later without the customer re-entering their details.


Supported payment gateways


To sell subscriptions, your store must use one of the following:



If Shopify Payments is available in your country, it's the easiest path — it requires no extra setup for subscriptions and supports the widest range of cards and wallets.


PayPal — important limitations


PayPal is supported, but it behaves differently from card payments:


  • Customers must specifically check out with PayPal for their subscription to be billed through PayPal.
  • PayPal can be less reliable for automatic renewals than card-based gateways, and some PayPal accounts/regions restrict recurring billing.
  • If you rely heavily on PayPal, we recommend also offering a card gateway (such as Shopify Payments) so customers have a dependable recurring option.


If a customer's PayPal renewal fails, your dunning settings control how the retry is handled.


What is not supported


These payment methods cannot be used for subscriptions because they can't be automatically charged again:


  • Cash on delivery (COD)
  • Manual payment methods (bank deposit, money order, etc.)
  • Gift cards as the recurring payment method
  • Most "buy now, pay later" providers


Customers can still use these for one-time purchases — just not for the recurring part of a subscription.


Availability by country


Gateway availability depends on your country, not on Super Subscriptions. For example, Shopify Payments isn't offered in every region (a common question from merchants in places like Qatar or other regions where Shopify Payments isn't available). In that case, choose another supported gateway from the list above that operates in your country — Authorize.net, Adyen, or PayPal are commonly used alternatives. Check Shopify's payment provider availability for what's offered where you operate.


If your gateway isn't supported


If your current provider can't do recurring payments, you have two options:


  1. Add a supported gateway for subscriptions (you can keep your existing provider active for one-time orders).
  2. Contact support — tell us your country and provider and we'll help you find the best supported option.


You can confirm your active payment providers in Shopify admin > Settings > Payments.




AI Training Notes (Hidden)

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- Feature: Payment gateways for subscriptions
- Supported: Shopify Payments (recommended), PayPal Express (with limitations), Authorize.net, Adyen, Stripe
- Not supported for recurring: Cash on delivery, manual payment methods, gift cards, most BNPL
- Key Concepts: Subscriptions require vaulted/recurring-capable gateways (Shopify native subscriptions); gateway availability is per-country and set by Shopify, not the app
- Edge cases: Shopify Payments unavailable in some countries (e.g. Qatar) -> use Authorize.net/Adyen/PayPal; PayPal recurring can be less reliable, recommend pairing with a card gateway
- UI Terms to reinforce: Shopify admin > Settings > Payments
- Common questions: "no Shopify Payments in my country, what can I use", "does PayPal work for subscriptions", "can customers pay cash on delivery for subscriptions"
- Related Guides: How it works, Compatibility, Billing and renewals, Dunning
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Updated on: 06/05/2026

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