Converting from Recharge Checkout on Shopify to the Shopify Checkout Integration
If you are interested in converting to the Shopify checkout, we make the conversion process as easy as possible.
In November 2020, Recharge partnered with Shopify to create a new version of Recharge that leverages the Shopify Checkout and Shopify’s Subscription APIs. This upgraded experience offers a host of benefits for merchants, such as a native checkout that supports subscriptions, improved checkout conversions, deeply integrated data in the Shopify admin, and more.
This guide provides an overview and additional resources to ensure your business's transition to the Shopify Checkout goes smoothly.
Conversion requests and overview
If you're a Recharge Checkout on Shopify user and want to switch to the Shopify Checkout integration, the Checkout Conversion Team can help. Our team has experience providing the best conversion approaches and solutions.
To get started with converting to the Shopify Checkout Integration, fill out the request to convert form.
Converting your Recharge Checkout on Shopify store to the Shopify Checkout integration consists of three major processes:
- Required - Store assessment by the Recharge conversion team
- Required - Storefront and store settings conversion
- Optional - Existing subscriber migration
You can use or download the following conversion checklist to keep track of the conversion process:
Task |
Check when complete |
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Fill out the request to convert form |
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Complete store assessment with the conversion team |
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Action necessary updates identified by the conversion team |
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The conversion team performs storefront conversion |
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Existing subscriber migration (optional) |
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Successful conversion notification received |
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Complete the post conversion checklist |
Step 1 - Store assessment
After submitting the request to convert form, a member of the Recharge conversion team will assess the current state of your Recharge Checkout on Shopify store to ensure your store’s conversion is a seamless process. The assessment team will respond as soon as they are able. The assessment process may take a couple of business days but sometimes may require more time if your store has a lot of customizations.
The conversion considerations taken into account during the assessment are not disqualifiers for conversion, but rather considerations taken to ensure proper functionality. The Recharge conversion team takes into account the following conversion considerations:
Note: The following list contains common conversion considerations. Review the full list of Shopify feature compatibility with the Shopify Checkout Integration to ensure your current store settings are compatible.
Conversion considerations |
Notes |
| Custom code |
This must be taken into consideration to ensure any custom coding still works on the Shopify Checkout Integration and to prevent unforeseen errors on the storefront. |
| Payment processor |
Shopify supports the following payment processors, per their subscription eligibility requirements:
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| Customer portal theme |
We recommend using a standard customer portal theme, Affinity, or updating your Recharge Theme Engine to version 4.0.1 or higher. For more information on customer portal themes, see Comparing the customer portal options. |
| Third-party integrations |
Most third-party apps and integrations that are compatible with the Recharge Checkout on Shopify, are compatible with the Shopify Checkout Integration. To check compatibility, see Apps and integrations compatible with Recharge and use the Shopify Checkout Integration platform icons. |
| Shipping configuration |
Shipping settings and configurations must be taken into consideration to ensure your current shipping setup is compatible with the Shopify Checkout Integration. |
| Number of products you sell | This must be taken into consideration due to Shopify API rate limits. Depending on the number of products you sell, some stores may need an API rate limit increase. |
| SKU overrides |
SKU overrides are not supported on the Shopify Checkout Integration due to a Shopify limitation. |
| Recharge Workflows |
Your current use of Recharge Workflows will be assessed to ensure functionality on the Shopify Checkout Integration. |
| RechargeSMS |
For merchants using RechargeSMS, the opt-in process for customers differs for the Shopify Checkout Integration. This requires you to update your RechargeSMS settings to ensure customers can opt-in to RechargeSMS at checkout. See Enable RechargeSMS Opt-in and follow the instructions for the Shopify Checkout Integration to update your opt-in. |
| Store Credit |
You cannot migrate to the Shopify Checkout Integration if you are currently enrolled in the Store Credit Early Adopter Program. |
| Accelerated payment methods |
Some accelerated payment methods are not supported for subscription products on the Shopify Checkout Integration:
Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay are supported on the Shopify Checkout Integration. |
After the conversion team has completed your store assessment, they will reach out with recommendations and notes on any store settings that may be incompatible with the Shopify Checkout Integration. During this time, the conversion team will work with you to provide guidance on customizations your store requires.
Step 2 - Storefront and store settings
Note: Eligibility to offer subscriptions on one of Shopify's eligible payment processors is a prerequisite for the Shopify Checkout Integration.
After the conversion team has completed your store assessment and helped to address customization needs, they will update your store settings and complete a refreshed installation of your storefront’s subscription widget. This process is required to ensure your store has the proper settings configured for the Shopify Checkout Integration.
Updating your storefront and store settings consists of the following tasks:
Task |
Notes |
| Update store permissions | The conversion team will need collaborator permissions to add any missing permissions to your store. Additional permissions are required to allow Recharge access to Shopify’s subscription APIs. |
| Enable a payment processor |
Shopify supports the following payment processors, per their subscription eligibility requirements:
The conversion team will ensure your eligible payment processor is connected to Recharge during the storefront and settings update process. |
| Create selling plan groups |
The assessment team will create Shopify-checkout selling plans using your existing products. Selling plan groups are the Shopify object that represents how subscriptions are sold. If your store sells over 1,000 products, this process can take an extended period. |
| Install the subscription widget |
After the team has converted you, they will install the Shopify Checkout Integration compatible subscription widget for you. Most subscription widget customizations on the Recharge Checkout are easy to replicate on the Shopify Checkout. This process involves the following steps:
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| Post migration checklist |
You must complete the post migration checklist to ensure full functionality on the Shopify Checkout. |
Step 3 - Migrate existing subscribers
Note: This step is only applicable if you have existing subscribers.
After your storefront and store settings are updated, new subscribers will purchase subscriptions directly from the Shopify Checkout and have their orders processed with your eligible payment processor.
Subscriptions that existed before conversion continue to process in Recharge using your legacy payment gateway.
You can leverage Recharge's safe, reliable existing subscriber migration process to have all existing subscribers have recurring orders processed through Shopify. Having all new and existing subscribers have their orders processed through Shopify provides a consolidated payment management experience.
Existing subscriber migration consists of:
- Adding the payment gateway currently used with Recharge as a legacy gateway within the Shopify admin
- Scheduling time for Recharge to perform the existing subscriber migration
- Recharge updating existing customer data to Shopify’s standards
Adding a legacy payment gateway
Before migrating existing subscribers to the Shopify Checkout, you must add your legacy payment gateway to your Shopify admin. Refer to the following table for instructions on adding your legacy payment gateway to Shopify:
Note: You can only add one legacy payment gateway that processes credit card transactions in Shopify. If you use two providers to process credit card payments, you must consolidate your credit card customers to one payment gateway through a processor-to-processor migration. The assessment team will assist with consulting on payment processor migrations if applicable.
Payment processor |
Instructions |
| Stripe |
Example: |
| Braintree |
Example: |
| PayPal |
Note: If you use PayPal and another legacy payment processor, use these directions to connect PayPal and the applicable payment processor directions to connect your legacy payment processor. This allows you to use both a legacy payment processor and PayPal. |
| Authorize.net |
Example: |
Recharge recommends waiting 5 business days after the storefront and store settings updates to migrate your existing subscribers. This allows you to ensure the conversion meets your expectations and validate that new checkouts are coming in as expected. Confirm with the conversion team when you're ready to migrate your existing subscribers.
Existing subscriber migration checklist
You can use or download the following migration checklist to keep track of the migration process:
Task |
Check when complete |
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Contact the conversion team to begin the existing customer migration process |
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The conversion team provides a link for the merchant to enable their legacy payment gateway in Shopify |
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Confirmation of the start of the existing customer migration received |
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Confirmation of the completion of the existing customer migration received |
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Complete the post migration checklist |
Post conversion and migration checklist
After completing both the Shopify Checkout Integration conversion and existing customer migration, complete the following tests to confirm that everything behaves as expected:
Task |
Check when complete |
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Complete a test subscription transaction |
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Confirm the subscription widget looks and behaves as expected:
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Confirm the appropriate shipping & taxes are charged at checkout |
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Review the customer portal experience to ensure it looks and behaves as expected |
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Update a test customer's payment or billing information in the customer portal to view the new Shopify email update flow |
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Before canceling the test order, process the first recurring order associated with the test transaction to confirm the recurring orders behave as expected. |
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| Cancel and refund the test order if applicable | |
| Review Understanding customer management on the Shopify Checkout Integration and Migrated Shopify Checkout Integration for more information on the customer management process post-conversion. | |
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Update any relevant internal and external documentation related to subscriptions (FAQ pages, landing pages, customer service guides) to reflect new processes such as performing refunds and updating billing information. |
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Confirm any third-party apps are configured to function with the Shopify Checkout and connect with the respective app’s support team to confirm settings are adjusted as required. |
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Closely monitor new orders including new checkout orders and existing recurring subscription orders. Follow the order from the charge processing and order creation to fulfillment to ensure it behaves as expected. |
If you run into any issues or have questions during your testing, reach out to Recharge support.
Technical details and requirements
For more information on the technical details and feature compatibility, refer to Shopify Checkout Integration technical details and requirements.
