Shopify app comparison
Loop vs Skio
Choose Loop Subscriptions when Growth subscription brands focused on retention. Choose Skio, a Recharge Company when Established DTC subscription brands. Choose neither if your current setup already does enough or the expected improvement would not justify the extra cost and work.
Loop
Growth subscription brands focused on retention. Loop is a retention-led subscription platform for growth brands that will actively improve the subscriber portal, cancellation journeys and failed-payment recovery.
Setup: Heavier setup
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Skio
Established DTC subscription brands. Skio is a high-investment subscription platform for established DTC brands that prioritise subscriber experience, migration support, retention tooling and detailed operating data.
Setup: Confirm before starting
Official vendor website.Neither yet?
Wait if the subscriptions problem is still occasional, your current setup already handles it or your team does not have time to use either app well.
See the simpler starting point →The differences that matter
Swipe the table to see both apps →
| What to check | Loop | Skio |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Branded self-service customer portal, Personalised cancellation flows and analytics, Smart failed-payment recovery | No-code subscriber portal, Smart payment recovery and dunning analytics, Multi-step cancellation flows |
| Important limitation | Paid plans combine a monthly fee with a percentage transaction charge | The public Scale plan has a high monthly fee plus transaction charges |
Loop Subscriptions is the stronger fit when:
- Growth subscription brands focused on retention
- Teams that will own cancellation and dunning optimisation
- Stores needing subscriber self-service and bundles
Skio, a Recharge Company is the stronger fit when:
- Established DTC subscription brands
- Teams prioritising subscriber experience and retention
- Merchants needing structured migration support
What will you actually pay?
Loop
FreeFree Forever covers up to 50 active subscriptions. Starter is $99/month plus 1% per transaction; Pro is $399/month plus 0.75% per transaction. Prices are in USD. Check current limits and terms before choosing.
Pricing checked 2026-09-22Check official pricing ↗Skio
From USD 599/monthThe listing now identifies Skio as a Recharge company. The Scale plan is $599/month plus 1% and $0.20 per transaction. Check platform-specific contract and migration terms.
Pricing checked 2026-09-07Check official pricing ↗You might not need either yet
Wait if the subscriptions problem is still occasional, your current setup already handles it or your team does not have time to use either app well.
- A simple validation-stage subscription with little volume
- An early-stage subscription test
- The problem is still occasional, your current setup already handles it or neither app would create enough value to justify the extra cost and work.
Ready to set it up?
Start with one useful feature and test the customer journey before switching on more.
Set up Loop
Use Loop Subscriptions for a controlled first use case and expand only after the result is proven.
- Build the subscription business case
- Configure the core selling plan before growth features
- Design the customer portal as a service channel
- Build transparent cancellation flows
Set up Skio
Use Skio, a Recharge Company for a controlled first use case and expand only after the result is proven.
- Build a scale-level business case
- Configure products, selling plans and order rules
- Design and connect the subscriber portal
- Set up payment recovery before launch
Checks that apply to either app
- The complete customer and operational journey works on mobile and desktop.
- Required Shopify data and integrations update once and in the intended place.
- A person responsible can resolve common failures without unsafe access or manual workarounds.
- The measured value is compared with software cost, team time and new support demand.
Common questions
Is Loop Subscriptions better than Skio, a Recharge Company?
Not automatically. Loop Subscriptions is the better fit when growth subscription brands focused on retention. Skio, a Recharge Company is the better fit when established dtc subscription brands.
Which is easier to set up: Loop Subscriptions or Skio, a Recharge Company?
Loop Subscriptions is currently classed as heavier setup, while Skio, a Recharge Company is confirm before starting. The real effort depends on your data, integrations, theme and the number of workflows you enable.
How should I test Loop Subscriptions against Skio, a Recharge Company before committing?
Choose one real customer journey and one measurable outcome. Complete the same checks for both options, including the complete customer and operational journey works on mobile and desktop. and required shopify data and integrations update once and in the intended place., then compare the result and the work your team had to do.
What should I measure after choosing Loop Subscriptions or Skio, a Recharge Company?
Record the current result before launch, then measure the customer outcome the app is meant to improve alongside app cost, support demand, errors and the time required to run it. Keep the app only when the total value is clear.
Can I switch between Loop Subscriptions and Skio, a Recharge Company later?
Usually, but switching can affect settings, customer data, theme placements, integrations and reporting. Export what you can, document the current setup and test the replacement before removing the original app.
Still comparing?
All subscriptions options →Sources and independence
Based on official app listings and vendor documentation, not a claim of hands-on testing of every feature. Affiliate relationships do not decide which app we recommend.
- Loop Subscriptions: official product information
- Skio, a Recharge Company: official product information