09/07/2026
Quick one for anyone running a membership, SaaS product, or subscription box: "recurring billing" and "subscription billing" are not the same thing, even though people use them like they are.
Recurring billing = same charge, same schedule, no surprises. A gym membership at a flat monthly rate is a good example.
Subscription billing = all of that, plus trials, plan changes, upgrades/downgrades, pausing, proration. It's built to flex with the customer, not just repeat a transaction.
Here's the part that matters for your bottom line: subscription models tend to see more chargebacks because customers forget what they signed up for, or don't realize they're still being charged. That affects how a payment processor looks at your account — including reserves and approval terms.
Knowing which model you actually run helps you have a clearer conversation about what your payment setup needs to handle.
Not sure which bucket your billing falls into? Feel free to ask — we're glad to walk through it.