PayWhirl Subscriptions now supports in-person subscription sales through Shopify POS. This makes it easy to offer recurring products, memberships, clubs, and subscription programs directly at your retail location.
When a product in the Shopify POS cart has subscription options configured in PayWhirl, the POS can display those available purchase options so staff can choose the right plan at checkout. After checkout, Shopify POS securely saves the customer’s payment method and PayWhirl automatically rebills them on the selected schedule—just like an online subscription.
This feature is ideal for:
Wine clubs
Coffee subscriptions
Memberships
Subscription boxes
Refill programs
Any recurring in-store offer
How It Works
Once the feature is enabled in Shopify POS:
Add a product to the POS cart.
If that product has subscription plans configured in PayWhirl, the cart will show that purchase options are available.
Open the PayWhirl Subscriptions tile in Shopify POS.
Select the customer’s preferred plan (for example, one-time purchase, weekly subscription, monthly subscription, or prepaid plan).
Save the selection and continue to checkout.
Shopify POS stores the customer’s payment method during checkout.
PayWhirl automatically manages future recurring charges based on the selected subscription plan.
Requirements
Before using subscriptions in Shopify POS, make sure:
You are using PayWhirl Subscriptions on Shopify.
The product already has subscription options configured in PayWhirl.
You are using Shopify POS.
Your POS device has a supported payment setup, such as a card reader or Tap to Pay, so the customer’s payment method can be securely collected and saved for future billing.
A customer is added to the cart, since subscriptions require customer information.
Setup: Add PayWhirl to Your Shopify POS Smart Grid
To make subscriptions available in POS, add the PayWhirl POS extension to your Shopify POS smart grid.
Step 1: Open the Smart Grid editor
In Shopify POS:
Tap the + button to add a new tile.
Select App.
Step 2: Choose PayWhirl
In the app list, tap PayWhirl Subscriptions.
Open the App extension tab.
Tap Add next to PayWhirl Subscriptions POS.
Once added, the PayWhirl tile will appear in your smart grid.
Use Subscriptions in Shopify POS
After setup, your staff can apply subscription plans during checkout.
Step 1: Add a subscription-enabled product to the cart
Add any product that has subscription plans configured in PayWhirl.
If the product includes subscription options, Shopify POS will indicate that purchase options are available.
Step 2: Open the PayWhirl Subscriptions tile
Tap the PayWhirl Subscriptions tile in the smart grid.
If eligible items are in the cart, the tile will show that subscriptions are available for those items.
Step 3: Choose a purchase option
PayWhirl will display the available plans for the item, such as:
One-time purchase
Subscribe & Save plans
Prepaid plans
Select the customer’s preferred option, then tap Save.
Step 4: Add a customer
A customer must be attached to the cart before completing a subscription order.
If no customer is assigned yet, Shopify POS will prompt you to add one.
Step 5: Complete checkout
Proceed to checkout as normal. During checkout, Shopify POS collects and securely stores the customer’s payment method. PayWhirl then uses that stored payment method for future recurring charges based on the subscription schedule.
What the Cart Shows
After a subscription option is selected, the cart updates to reflect the recurring purchase details, including:
The selected subscription plan
Any subscription discount
The recurring subtotal
Recurring shipping (when applicable)
This helps confirm exactly what the customer is signing up for before the sale is completed.
Notes About Shipping and Recurring Charges
Depending on the product and checkout setup:
The initial in-store checkout may show the current sale amount.
The cart may also display a recurring subtotal for future renewals.
If the product requires shipping for future recurring orders, recurring shipping may appear separately after it is calculated.
This allows merchants and customers to clearly understand the ongoing subscription terms.
Best Use Cases
Selling subscriptions in Shopify POS is especially useful for merchants who also sell in person, such as:
Wineries offering wine club memberships
Coffee shops selling recurring bean deliveries
Retail stores offering refill subscriptions
Gyms or studios selling memberships
Specialty shops enrolling customers into monthly clubs
It brings the same subscription experience you offer online into your physical store.
Troubleshooting
The PayWhirl tile does not appear in POS
Make sure the PayWhirl Subscriptions POS app extension has been added to the Shopify POS smart grid.
The product does not show subscription options
Confirm that the product has active subscription plans configured in PayWhirl in Shopify.
Checkout requires a customer
Subscriptions require a customer record. Add a customer to the cart before completing checkout.
Payment options are unavailable
To sell subscriptions in person, Shopify POS must be able to securely collect and save a payment method. Make sure your POS payment setup is configured with a supported card-present option, such as a card reader or Tap to Pay.
Need Help?
If you need help setting up subscriptions in Shopify POS, our team is here to help. Reach out to PayWhirl support, and we’ll help you get your in-person subscription workflow up and running.