Starter Free vs Pro

SubscriptionFlow comes in two levels: Starter (Free) and Pro. What is included in each, how locked features behave, and how to upgrade when ready.

The short version

Starter (Free) gives you real, working subscription management: subscription products, a customer dashboard, manual renewals, and full admin oversight.
Pro adds the automation, payments, security, and design features that turn it into a hands‑off, professional subscription business.

You can run a store on Free and upgrade to Pro whenever you’re ready — no data is lost, and nothing is deleted when you switch.

Feature	Starter (Free)	Pro
Subscription products & plans	✅	✅
Use & edit the built‑in plans (Starter/Pro/Agency)	✅	✅
Create new custom plans	—	✅
Subscription status & expiry tracking	✅	✅
Grace period	✅	✅
Manual renewals (customer reorders)	✅	✅
Free trials — configure, `trialing` status, dashboard display	✅	✅
Free trials — automatic conversion at the end of the trial	—	✅
Free trials — scheduled trial emails	—	✅
Automatic renewals (off‑session charging)	—	✅
SubscriptionFlow PayPal gateway (vault)	—	✅
Stripe renewals	—	✅
Customer dashboard (subscriptions, profile)	✅	✅
Dashboard invoices + PDF download	—	✅
Plan switching / upgrades from the dashboard	—	✅
Advanced product rules (direct checkout, cancellation, auto‑coupons)	—	✅
Elementor widgets (Dashboard, Login, Checkout)	—	✅
Advanced checkout customization	—	✅
Two‑factor authentication (email)	—	✅
SMS verification & recovery codes	—	✅
Cloudflare Turnstile protection	—	✅
Security logs	—	✅
Settings: PDF Invoice, Checkout, Dashboard, Security	—	✅
Admin dashboard overview	✅	✅
Automatic plugin updates	✅	✅

(This table is mirrored in the full Feature Comparison reference page.)

On Starter (Free) you can:

Sell subscription products and issue license keys.
Let customers view and manage their subscriptions on the dashboard shortcode.
Track status, expiry, and grace periods.
Edit the three built‑in plans to match your offer.

Renewals on Free are manual — customers renew by placing a new order. That’s perfect for getting started or for simple, low‑volume products.

Pro is about automation and polish:

Hands‑off billing — automatic renewal charges via PayPal Vault or Stripe, so revenue continues without customer action.
Self‑service — customers can cancel, upgrade, and download PDF invoices themselves.
Design freedom — Elementor widgets and advanced checkout customization.
Account security — two‑factor authentication, SMS, recovery codes, Cloudflare Turnstile, and security logs.
Business tooling — custom plans, advanced product rules, and configurable settings.

SubscriptionFlow never hides things confusingly. On the Free plan:

Pro settings and screens show a friendly “This is a Pro feature — Upgrade to Pro” panel instead of the controls.
A one‑line notice at the top of SubscriptionFlow screens summarizes what’s locked.
The brand banner shows an Upgrade to Pro button (it becomes a Pro badge once licensed).
Pro modules aren’t just hidden — they’re switched off entirely, so nothing runs in the background on Free.

Your data is always safe. Downgrading or an expired license locks Pro features but never deletes subscriptions, licenses, plans, or settings.

Full steps and troubleshooting are in License Activation.

Start on Free to learn the flow, then upgrade when you need automatic billing or security.
Activate Pro before configuring gateways or security — those screens only appear once your license is active.
A brief network outage won’t lock you out. If the license server is temporarily unreachable, SubscriptionFlow keeps your last known plan so paying customers aren’t disrupted.
Keep your license active to keep receiving Pro features and updates.

Can I really run a store on the Free plan?

Yes. Free covers subscription products, licenses, the customer dashboard, and manual renewals — enough to sell subscriptions.

What’s the single biggest reason to upgrade?

Automatic renewals. On Free, customers must reorder each term; Pro charges saved payment methods automatically.

If my license expires, do I lose my data?

No. Pro features simply lock; your subscriptions, licenses, plans, and settings remain intact and reappear when you renew.

Will my Free subscriptions keep working after I upgrade?

Yes. Upgrading only unlocks features — existing subscriptions and licenses are unaffected.

Do updates work on the Free plan?

Yes. Automatic plugin updates are available on both Free and Pro.

Can I edit the built‑in plans on Free?

Yes — you can edit Starter, Pro, and Agency. Creating brand‑new custom plans requires Pro.

Is there any trial of Pro features?

Pro features unlock when a valid Pro license is activated. Check the plugin’s pricing page for current trial or refund options.