We’ve covered checkouts and why they’re a critical element of subscription commerce in past posts. But this time, we want to look at some of the best subscription checkouts in action.
Join us as we explore how Spotify, Netflix, and The Economist do subscription checkout experiences right.
3 of our favourite subscription checkouts
Spotify
Speedy and efficient
Spotify’s subscription checkout is quick. You can find the right plan for you, subscribe, and get on with the rest of your day in just a few steps.
Step-by-step clarity
Confusing checkouts increase the risk of potential subscribers leaving you with abandoned baskets, a common problem in subscription commerce. But that’s not an issue with Spotify. During the checkout process, it’s clear what’s happening every step of the way.
Multiple payment options to choose from
Spotify offers you a choice of payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal.
Clear confirmation of subscription
A concise order summary at the end of the checkout process confirms that you’ve subscribed successfully and tells you which premium package you’ve bought. That leaves no room for confusion or misunderstanding.
Informs you about your new subscriber benefits
Spotify shows you what features and benefits you have as a subscriber (for example, ‘Download to listen offline, without Wi-Fi’). This helps you feel welcome and gets you excited to start enjoying those benefits.
Netflix
Here’s why we like Netflix’s subscription checkout:
Plan and feature comparisons
The second step in the Netflix subscription checkout presents a simple comparison chart for the three plans:
- Standard with adverts
- Standard
- Premium.
It covers the monthly prices, video quality, resolution, and other essential details for each tier so you can see all the information you need to choose a plan.
The Netflix subscription checkout has just three steps:
- Choose your plan
- Submit your email address and create a password
- Choose how to pay
It’s a fast process with no unnecessary complications.
Lots of payment options
Netflix offers new subscribers a huge range of payment options. Accepted methods include:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Virtual cards
- Netflix Gift Cards
- PayPal
- Partner payments (e.g. add Netflix to your bill for BT, 02, Virgin Media, and other service providers)
Netflix caters to consumers with diverse payment preferences and makes it easy for anyone to subscribe. That’s a far cry from other subscription commerce companies that only accept a limited range of payment methods.
The Economist
Here’s why we like The Economist’s subscription checkout (disclosure, The Economist is a Limio customer, so we're a bit biased!):
A varied selection of subscription plans
The Economist shows you their different subscription options in one convenient place via a simple menu. Click on any of the three tabs (Espresso, Digital, Digital + Print) to switch between the different plans.
The Espresso and Digital options offer your first month free to incentivise new subscribers. You can choose to pay monthly or annually, with auto-renewal activated, too.
You can either sign in with an existing account from another platform (Google, Facebook, or Apple) or create a new account with The Economist. If you choose to sign in with an existing account, the subscription checkout process is even more seamless.
Mid-checkout order summary to prevent mistakes
The Economist presents a mid-checkout order summary while you input your details. That means you can be sure what you’re signing up for and make any necessary changes, which is ideal if you realise you chose the wrong plan.
After you enter your details, The Economist clarifies the auto-renewal terms and invites you to click through to another page to read their full terms. This reduces the risk of getting caught in a subscription trap.
Final confirmation
When you complete the subscription checkout process, The Economist presents an order confirmation containing key details (price, term, etc.). This tells you exactly what you’ve signed up for, how long it lasts, and how much it costs.
How can you create a seamless subscription checkout process?
Creating a streamlined, efficient, and clear subscription checkout is crucial to provide new subscribers with a positive experience. These three companies are just a few examples demonstrating how important it is to create simple, seamless subscription checkouts.
Limio, a startup in London, proudly powers The Economist’s checkout process. If you want to build a seamless subscription checkout process for your company, Limio is ready to help.