Comparison
Loop Subscriptions vs Skio
Loop Subscriptions vs Skio — Loop entry $99/mo (raised), Skio post-Recharge acquisition uncertainty. Editorial-only, verdict by store stage. Verified May 2026.
Loop Subscriptions
"Best Shopify Subscription App" — turn one-time buyers into loyal subscribers.
Skio
"The subscription platform top Shopify brands graduate to" — modern, Shopify-native subscriptions.
Affiliate link. Pricing and terms are set by the vendor. details
On this page
At a glance
Both Loop Subscriptions and Skio entered the Shopify subscription space as challengers to Recharge, but in 2026 their trajectories diverged sharply: Loop raised entry pricing $49 → $99 (operator pushback documented on G2), Skio was acquired by Recharge on April 30, 2026 for $105M cash. Loop remains independent with a UX-led positioning; Skio operates as a distinct Recharge product with roadmap-convergence expected within 12-24 months. The decision is less about features and more about whether you want long-term independence (Loop) or to deploy on a platform whose parent has not yet finalized product decisions (Skio).
Quick stats
Starting price
Loop Subscriptions
$99/mo
Skio
$499/mo
Rating
Loop Subscriptions
9.2/10
Skio
9/10
Integrations
Loop Subscriptions
7
Skio
6
Ownership status (verified 2026-05-30)
Loop Subscriptions
Independent
Skio
Acquired by Recharge April 30, 2026 ($105M cash)
Entry pricing
Loop Subscriptions
$99/mo Essentials (raised from $49 in 2026)
Skio
$499/mo Pro
Affiliate program
Loop Subscriptions
No public affiliate program
Skio
No public affiliate program
Roadmap signal
Loop Subscriptions
Independent roadmap, full ownership of feature decisions
Skio
Operates as distinct product; Recharge has not communicated forced-migration timeline
Pricing
Loop Subscriptions
$99/mo
- up to
- —
- Model
- tiered
Tiers: Starter $99/mo + 1.00% transaction fee + $0/order (DTC); Pro $399/mo + 0.75% transaction fee + $0/order (established); Enterprise custom Pricing gotchas: Annual contracts required on paid plans; transaction fee applies on subscription GMV (1.00% Starter / 0.75% Pro). Free plan: 14-day free trial; no permanent free plan Verified 2026-05-30
Skio
$499/mo
- up to
- —
- Model
- flat
Tiers: Monthly Plan $599/mo (or $499/mo annual) + 1% transaction fee + $0.20 per subscription order; Enterprise custom Pricing gotchas: Per-order fee $0.20 adds up fast (10K orders/mo = $2,000 extra); transaction fee 1% on subscription GMV stacks on top of platform fee. Free plan: No—14-day free trial Verified 2026-05-30
Loop Subscriptions starts at $99/mo vs Skio's $499/mo. Pricing models differ: Loop Subscriptions is tiered, Skio is flat.
Loop Subscriptions: Essentials $99/mo; Growth $399/mo; Enterprise $1,199/mo + custom. Skio: Pro $499/mo (small brand); Enterprise $1,499/mo + custom. Loop is ~5x cheaper on entry. Pricing has not changed on Skio post-acquisition announcement, but the comparison is no longer purely a price-tier match — the platform-roadmap question now sits on top.
Features
Loop Subscriptions
- Loop Flows (gamified subscriber journey) — Reward subscribers after N orders with freebies or points to drive retention
- Smart Cancel Flows (multi-stage) — Configure a visual multi-step cancel flow with pause / swap / discount offers
- Smart Dunning (up to 15 retries) — Payment recovery with up to 15 retries and one-tap card updates
- Bundle Builder (native) — Customizable subscription bundles built into the platform
- Loop Analytics (cohort) — Cohort analysis of subscriber retention across channels and SKUs
- 30+ API Endpoints — Rich public API for custom integrations
Skio
- Native Shopify Checkout (passwordless) — Passwordless login via 4-digit SMS or email code; native checkout (no iframes)
- Build-a-Box (multi-type) — Static, dynamic, and sectioned build-your-own subscription boxes
- Multi-Step Cancel Flows — Convert cancels into pauses / swaps / saves with multi-step retention flows
- Automated Journeys — Welcome flows, win-backs, upsell campaigns on autopilot
- Group Subscriptions / Family Plans — Multi-member subscription support (family plans, gift subscriptions)
- Tiered Discounts and Free Trials — Tiered subscription discounts, free trials, gift subscriptions
Shopify integration
Loop Subscriptions
Deep native Shopify integration; Shopify App Store; Built-for-Shopify badge; native to Shopify checkout and Customer Accounts; focused on Shopify Plus
Skio
Deep native Shopify integration; Shopify App Store; built on Shopify's Subscriptions API and native checkout; designed for Shopify Plus; Skio, a Recharge Company
Integrations
Only Loop Subscriptions
- GA4
- PostPilot
- Recart
- Zendesk
Both
- Sendlane
- Shopify
- Shopify Plus
Only Skio
- BigQuery
- Rivo
- Shopify Flow
Customer support
Support rating (aggregated from independent review platforms like G2, Capterra, Shopify App Store): Loop Subscriptions 9.7/10, Skio 9.6/10. This is an editorial composite of channel availability, response speed, and resolution quality — see the individual reviews below for specifics.
Pros & cons
Loop Subscriptions
Pros
- White-glove migration team
- Generous free tier (50 active subscribers)
- Customizable cancel flows + smart dunning
Cons
- APIs not yet at full feature parity with web UI
- Pricing climbed from $49 to $99/mo entry
- Newer platform — smaller ecosystem of integrations vs. Recharge
Skio
Pros
- Native Shopify checkout — no iframes, no password resets
- Build-a-Box for customizable bundles
- Outstanding CSM support
Cons
- $99/mo entry kills testing economics for <100-order brands
- Documentation thin/outdated, troubleshooting requires CS
- Acquired by Recharge for $105M April 2026 — roadmap independence uncertain
When each one wins
Winner: Loop Subscriptions
New 2026 subscription deployment, independence preferred
Loop is independent, ships at a cheaper entry tier ($99 vs $499), and the roadmap is fully owned by the Loop team. For brands committing 3+ years to a subscription platform, the absence of a parent-company convergence question is the deciding factor at this scale.
Winner: Skio
Existing Skio merchant evaluating stay-or-migrate
No forced migration was announced. If Skio specifically solves a pricing-model or customer-portal-UX problem you rely on, stay through 2026 — Loop migration mid-year before Recharge clarifies Skio roadmap is a panic move. Re-evaluate at Q2 2027.
Winner: Loop Subscriptions
Brand needs sub-$200/mo subscription platform
Loop at $99/mo is the only honest choice in this band — Skio Pro at $499/mo is 5x more expensive and does not ship a smaller tier. If the budget gate is hard at $99-$200/mo, Loop is the platform — verify that the 2026 pricing raise (operator pushback documented on G2) does not foreshadow another move in 2027.
Our verdict
For new 2026 deployments, Loop Subscriptions is the cleaner independent bet — no parent-company question, UX-led subscriber-portal positioning, $99/mo entry tier that scales predictably. Skio is the right pick only when its specific feature set solves something Loop does not, AND with a calendar invite to re-evaluate at Q2 2027 when Recharge-side roadmap signals firm up. Neither is a partner — both pages editorial-only.
Similar tools worth comparing
Recharge
"The world's leading subscription platform, powering 71% of subscriptions sold on Shopify stores" — Recharge homepage (getrecharge.com, May 2026).
8.1/10from $25/moRead reviewYotpo
"Loyalty, Reviews & AI Visibility For Ecommerce" — eCommerce retention marketing platform.
8.3/10from $79/moRead review
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