How to Choose the Right Subscription Billing Plugin for Your WordPress Site
Subscription services are very much en vogue right now. Ever since Netflix took the video-on-demand market by storm, other businesses have been looking on in envy. A subscription model means that businesses receive recurring payments from their customers and, as a result, are able to offer services that would cost an enormous amount to purchase outright at a much more affordable rate. This can be seen in the modern software as a service (SaaS) industry, which has experienced a boom in recent years and is continuing to grow steadily.
Whichever way you are planning to implement subscriptions, adding the right plugin to your website will enable you and your customers to easily manage subscriptions through your website. If you have a WordPress-based website, you’re in luck. As always, there are a lot of plugins to choose from in the WordPress store. Here’s what you need to keep in mind to find the right one.
Managing Permissions
As well as providing you with the tools that you need to manage the subscriptions, the plugin should also give you the tools that you need to manage who can access what on your website. Whether you are providing your users with access to cloud-based software or premium media content through subscriptions, you want to be able to easily control who can access what.
This is a standard feature in most subscription billing plugins for WordPress, but some provide more options than others.
Check Reviews
User reviews will give you your best indication of what kind of reputation a plugin has amongst the general WordPress community. You will find user reviews in the WordPress store, but you can turn to websites like bestservices.reviews for a more in-depth analysis of the tools available.
Look for Free Trials
The best options open to you are going to cost money. Some charge a subscription fee; others require a one-off payment. There are some that will also take a small cut of any sales that you process through them. The range of prices reflects the wide range of use cases that exist for the subscription-based business model – some are aimed at individuals, others at large sprawling enterprises.
Luckily, many of the available plugins offer the option of a free trial. This usually grants you full use of the plugin for a limited time period. If you have the option of trying a plugin before putting any money down, it is generally worth doing so.
Assess Your Needs
You will find plugins aimed at all corners of the market, but the majority of those available are going to be poorly suited to your needs. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that more features equate to a better product, especially not when you’re paying for those features. Work out what it is that you need from the plugin before you start poring over feature sets.
If you are planning on introducing subscription-based services to your business, you will want to ensure that your website is providing customers with everything they need to buy and manage subscriptions with ease. Choosing the right plugin will instantly put all the tools you need in your hand. Just make sure to research thoroughly before you commit financially.
