Understanding Multi-Phase Subscriptions
Multi-Phase Subscriptions allow a single subscription plan to move through multiple pricing stages over time. A plan can start with a trial, continue with one or more introductory phases, and then move into the main recurring plan. This page explains the concept, the supported phase types, and the core rules.What it is
A Multi-Phase Subscription is a subscription plan that progresses through multiple stages in a defined order. Each phase can have its own duration, price, and billing behavior. A simple example timeline looks like this:| Phase | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Trial | 14 days | Free |
| Introductory phase | 3 months | $9/month |
| Main plan | Ongoing | $29/month |
When to use it
- Offer a free or paid trial before the main subscription starts.
- Create discounted introductory pricing for the first billing periods.
- Run launch, early-bird, or promotional pricing campaigns.
- Show customers a clear subscription timeline before and after purchase.
Supported phase structure
| Phase type | Description | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Trial phase | Optional first phase. Can be free or paid. | Always first if configured. |
| Introductory phase | Optional promotional or onboarding phase with custom pricing. | After trial and before main plan. |
| Main plan | The standard recurring subscription plan. | Always last. |
Common use cases
| Use case | Example |
|---|---|
| Free trial to standard plan | 14-day free trial, then $29/month. |
| Paid trial to subscription | 7-day paid trial for 29/month. |
| Introductory discount | First 3 months at 29/month. |
| Multiple promotional phases | Trial, early-bird pricing, then standard recurring pricing. |
Rules and limitations
- Only one trial phase is allowed per plan.
- A plan can include one or more introductory phases.
- The trial phase always appears first.
- The main plan always appears last.
- Introductory phases can be reordered before activation or publishing.
- After activation or publishing, the phase order becomes fixed.
Next steps
- Learn how to build the timeline in Creating Multi-Phase Plans.
- See what customers see in Customer Experience.