WooCommerce Subscriptions vs Stackless for WooCommerce
WooCommerce Subscriptions costs $279 a year for one site, and Stackless for WooCommerce costs $99 once for every site you run. Both plugins handle trials, signup fees, plan switching and failed-payment retries, so the choice comes down to your store's situation.
My advice is simple. Stackless is a good choice for any WooCommerce store, and I would pick it first. WooCommerce Subscriptions still makes sense for a store that already bills on it or needs gifting or same-day billing today. Gatilab makes Stackless and I lead its development, so weigh my view with that in mind.
Quick Verdict
Stackless for WooCommerce fits
- WooCommerce stores of any size, new or established
- Owners who'd rather pay once than renew every year
- Agencies running several stores on one license
- Stores that also need licensing, invoices, multi-currency or other modules
- Sellers who want Polar, Paddle or Dodo Payments to handle sales tax
WooCommerce Subscriptions fits
- Stores with subscribers already billing on it, because Stackless has no importer
- Subscription boxes that need one renewal date today
- Stores that sell gift subscriptions today
- Stores that need automatic renewals on a gateway outside Stackless's 5
- Buyers who want Woo's support and 100K+ active installs behind the plugin
Pricing
A 3-year example shows the gap. WooCommerce Subscriptions at $279 a year comes to $837 for one site. Stackless costs $99 once at the launch price and $399 once the deal ends, and either price covers every site.
| Compared | WooCommerce Subscriptions | Stackless for WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly license | $279 a year, 1 site. A 2-year plan saves 20%. | $39 a year (regularly $69), unlimited sites |
| One-time license | Not offered | $99 once (regularly $399), unlimited sites |
| What's included | Subscriptions, updates and support | All 43 modules, updates and support |
| Refund | 30-day money-back guarantee | 14-day unconditional refund |
| After you stop paying | Updates and support are part of the yearly plan | Every module keeps working. Updates and support stop. |
| Free edition | None | Stackless Lite has 23 modules, without Subscriptions |
WooCommerce.com price in USD and the Stackless store, checked October 30, 2026.
Feature Comparison
The core jobs match. The differences sit at the edges: WooCommerce Subscriptions has more billing options, and Stackless has more built in around them.
| Feature | WooCommerce Subscriptions | Stackless for WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | ||
| Billing schedules | Weekly, monthly, annual or your own frequency | Every 1 to 12 days, weeks, months or years |
| Free trials and signup fees | Yes | Yes |
| Setup on existing products | Subscription products, or one-time and subscription on one product | A checkbox on simple products and variations |
| Reusable storewide plans | Yes | Coming soon Each product sets its own schedule today. |
| Mixed carts | Yes, grouped by billing schedule | Yes, grouped by billing schedule |
| Gift subscriptions | Yes | Coming soon |
| New downloads with each renewal | Yes | Coming soon |
| Payments and renewals | ||
| Automatic renewals | 25+ gateways, including WooPayments, Stripe and PayPal | Built-in Stripe and PayPal, plus Polar, Paddle and Dodo Payments |
| Manual renewals | Any WooCommerce gateway, with an emailed invoice | Any WooCommerce gateway, with an emailed pay link |
| Merchant of record | Not listed on its product page | Polar, Paddle and Dodo Payments handle sales tax and VAT |
| Failed-payment retries | Yes, as a setting you turn on | Yes, on your schedule. The default is 1, 3 and 5 days. |
| One renewal date for all subscribers | Yes, with a prorated first payment | Coming soon |
| Customers and reporting | ||
| Plan switching with proration | Yes | Yes, for active subscriptions |
| My Account actions | Switch, update details, suspend or cancel | Pay, renew early, switch, change card or cancel |
| Customer-led pause | Yes | Coming soon Store admins can put a subscription on hold today. |
| Reporting | Subscriptions Health Check and WooCommerce Reports | A dashboard widget with MRR, churn and upcoming renewals |
| Around the subscription | ||
| Buyer-only content | WooCommerce Memberships, $199 a year | Page Access, included |
| Other store tools | Separate extensions | 42 other modules, including licensing, invoices and multi-currency |
| Migration from other plugins | A guide for subscribers coming from other platforms | No importer |
| Requires | WordPress 7.0+, WooCommerce 11.0+, PHP 7.4 | WordPress 6.7+, WooCommerce 9.9+, PHP 7.4+ |
| Cart and Checkout blocks, HPOS | Yes | Yes |
| Track record | Version 9.3.0, 100K+ active installs, 3.9/5 from 142 reviews | Version 1.8.0, with far less history |
From Woo's WooCommerce Subscriptions product page and the Stackless docs and plugin code, checked October 30, 2026.
Where Each One Wins
Stackless for WooCommerce
- $99 once covers every site, against $279 a year for each license
- Stripe and PayPal come built in, with no separate gateway plugin
- Polar, Paddle and Dodo Payments can handle sales tax as merchant of record
- 42 other modules come with the same license
- Modules you leave off load no code on your store
WooCommerce Subscriptions
- Billing date alignment puts every subscriber on one renewal date
- Gift subscriptions and reusable storewide plans are built in
- 25+ gateways support automatic renewals
- Woo builds it, and 100K+ stores run it
- A migration guide covers subscribers coming from other platforms
Stackless for WooCommerce on Screen
These screens come from the Stackless demo store, which sells to fictional customers.
(full size) 
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(full size) 
Create WooCommerce Subscription Products with Trials and Signup Fees
Switching From WooCommerce Subscriptions
Stackless has no importer for WooCommerce Subscriptions data, so moving live subscribers isn't a one-click job. Stackless also pauses its Subscriptions module while WooCommerce Subscriptions is active, so two plugins never bill the same customer.
It is wise to keep live subscribers where they are. The other Stackless modules work alongside WooCommerce Subscriptions, so your store can use them today.
FAQs on WooCommerce Subscriptions vs Stackless
Something else? Ask product support before you buy.
Can Stackless import my WooCommerce Subscriptions data?
No. Stackless has no importer, so existing subscribers should stay on WooCommerce Subscriptions. The other Stackless modules work alongside it.
Can both plugins run on one store?
Yes. Stackless pauses its own Subscriptions module while WooCommerce Subscriptions is active and names the plugin on its dashboard. The other Stackless modules keep working.
Does Stackless need WooPayments or a gateway plugin?
No. Stripe, PayPal, Polar, Paddle and Dodo Payments are built in. Any other WooCommerce gateway can still sell subscriptions, with renewals paid through an emailed link.
Which one is cheaper?
Stackless costs less on both of its licenses. WooCommerce Subscriptions costs $279 a year for one site, and Stackless costs $39 a year (regularly $69) or $99 once (regularly $399) for unlimited sites.
Does Stackless support gift subscriptions or one renewal date for everyone?
Both are coming soon to Stackless. WooCommerce Subscriptions has them today, so a store that depends on either right now should choose it.
Is the free Stackless Lite enough for subscriptions?
No. Stackless Lite has 23 modules and all five gateways, and Subscriptions is one of the paid modules.
What I Would Do
I'd put Stackless on any WooCommerce store, and the 14-day refund covers you if it doesn't fit. A store with live subscribers on WooCommerce Subscriptions should keep them there, and the other Stackless modules work alongside it.