Thinking about starting a subscription box business in 2024 but drowning in a sea of platform options?
Finding the perfect software can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
You need a platform that’s not just powerful but also easy to use, right? One that won’t break the bank and offers all the features you need to succeed.
Subbly promises to be that solution, but is it really the best choice for your subscription box business?
In this in-depth Subbly review, we’ll uncover its strengths & weaknesses to simply help you make an informed decision.
Ready to unlock the power of recurring revenue? Subbly helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs like you launch and grow their subscription box businesses. Start your free trial today and see how Subbly can transform your business.
What is Subbly?
Subbly is a tool that helps you start and run your own subscription business.
Think of it as an all-in-one platform where you can build your website builder to sell products on a recurring basis.
Instead of just selling something once, you can use Subbly to get customers to sign up for monthly boxes or regular deliveries.
Basically, Subbly makes it easy to create and manage subscription businesses without needing to be a tech whiz.
It handles things like taking payments, keeping track of orders, and sending out emails so you can easily focus on the fun part – creating awesome products your customers will love!
Who Created Subbly?
Stefan Pretty founded Subbly in 2013, inspired by the growing subscription box trend and frustrated by the lack of user-friendly tools.
Existing platforms were clunky and lacked features for subscription management.
They pretty envisioned a platform that would empower entrepreneurs to launch subscription-based businesses easily.
He wanted to democratize the business model, making it accessible to anyone.
This meant building a system that handled the complexities of subscriptions – from payments to shipping – all within a single platform.
Subbly’s commitment to simplicity has resonated with thousands of businesses.
They’ve become a key player in the subscription economy, helping entrepreneurs turn their passion projects into thriving businesses.
Top Benefits of Subbly
- Intuitive platform: Even if you’ve never built a website before, Subbly’s drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to create your online store. It’s designed to be user-friendly so you can get your store up and running quickly.
- Built for subscriptions: Subbly is specifically designed to help you sell subscription products. It handles recurring billing, manages customer subscriptions, and even enables you to reduce churn with built-in tools.
- Cost-effective: Subbly offers a range of plans to fit different budgets, including a basic plan that’s perfect for startups. You can also add features as you grow with add-ons, so you only pay for what you need.
- Excellent customer retention tools: Subbly provides features that help you keep your customers coming back for more. This includes things like discount codes, customer communication tools, and the ability to create a loyalty program.
- Streamlined shipping: Subbly integrates with leading shipping carriers, making it very easy to get your products to your customers. They even offer discounted shipping rates to help you save money.
- Marketing tools: Subbly offers built-in marketing features to help you grow your subscription business. This includes things like email marketing, coupon codes, and integrations with popular marketing platforms.
Best Features of Subbly
Subbly is packed with features designed to make running your subscription box business a breeze.
Here are some of the standout features that make Subbly a top choice for entrepreneurs:
1. Subscription Boxes
Subbly is tailor-made for subscription box businesses. It handles everything from recurring billing and order management to shipping and customer communication.
You can easily create different subscription tiers, offer discounts and coupons, and manage your inventory all within the platform.
2. Website Builder
There is no need to hire a web developer! Subbly’s drag-and-drop website builder makes it easy to create a professional-looking site for your business.
You can customize the design, add your branding, and showcase your products in a way that attracts customers.
3. Churn Suite
Keeping the customers happy is crucial for any subscription business.
Subbly’s Churn Suite helps you reduce customer churn with features like automated email campaigns, failed payment recovery, and detailed customer insights.
You can even respond to proactively address issues & customers answer questions before they lead to cancellations.
4. Funnels
Want to guide your users towards a specific action, like signing up for a subscription or making a purchase?
Subbly’s funnel feature lets you create customized sales funnels to optimize your conversion rates.
You can track the performance of the funnels and make adjustments to improve your results.
5. Surveys
Want to get feedback from your customers? Subbly’s built-in survey tool makes it easy to create and send surveys to your subscribers.
You can use this awesome feedback to improve your products, your service, and your overall business strategy.
Pricing
Subbly offers a variety of pricing plans to accommodate businesses of all sizes. Here’s a breakdown of their current plans:
| Plan | Price (monthly) |
|---|---|
| Basic | $39 |
| Subbly | $79 |
| Advanced | $159 |
| Subbly X | $499 |
Pros and Cons
It’s important to weigh the good and the bad before committing to any platform. Here’s a balanced look at Subbly’s strengths and weaknesses:
Pros
Cons
Alternatives of Subbly
While Subbly is a great option for many subscription businesses, it’s not the only one out there. Here are a few alternatives worth considering:
- Chargebee: A robust subscription management platform with advanced features like recurring billing, invoicing, and revenue recognition. It’s a good choice for larger businesses with complex needs.
- Cratejoy: Specifically designed for subscription boxes, Cratejoy offers a marketplace where you can list your box and reach a wider audience. They also provide tools for managing subscriptions and shipping.
- Shopify with a subscription app: Shopify is a popular ecommerce platform which can be used for subscriptions with the help of a third-party app like Bold Subscriptions or Recharge. This gives you the flexibility of Shopify with added subscription functionality.
- WooCommerce with a subscription plugin: If you’re using WordPress for your website, WooCommerce is a powerful ecommerce plugin that can be extended with a subscription plugin like WooCommerce Subscriptions. This is a good option if you’re already familiar with WordPress.
Personal Experience with Subbly
My team recently used Subbly to launch a new subscription box featuring artisanal coffee beans.
We were drawn to Subbly because of its user-friendly interface and focus on subscription management.
Here’s how it helped us achieve our goals:
- Quick setup: The intuitive platform allowed us to get our online store up and running in a matter of days.
- Easy subscription management: Subbly handled all the complexities of recurring billing, making it easy to manage our subscribers and their payments.
- Shipping simplified: Integrating with multiple shipping carriers streamlined our fulfillment process, saving us time and money.
- Reduced churn: The Churn Suite helped us identify at-risk customers & proactively address their concerns, reducing our churn rate.
- Increased customer engagement: We used Subbly’s built-in marketing tools to create email campaigns and offer discounts, which boosted customer engagement and loyalty.
Overall, Subbly proved to be an invaluable tool for launching and growing our subscription box business.
Its ease of use, comprehensive features, and focus on customer retention helped us achieve our goals and build a thriving community of coffee lovers.
Final Thoughts
Subbly shines with its user-friendly interface and focus on subscription businesses.
It simplifies recurring billing, website creation, and customer management, making it a great choice for entrepreneurs launching their first subscription box or those seeking an easier platform.
However, limitations in design customization and integrations might make more established businesses consider alternatives.
Ultimately, the best way to decide if Subbly is right for you is to try it out. Take advantage of their 14-day free trial to explore its features & see if it fits your needs.
You might just discover the best platform to power your subscription dreams!
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of subscriptions can I sell with Subbly?
Subbly is ideal for subscription boxes, memberships, and digital products. You can also sell physical products on a recurring basis.
Can I use my domain name with Subbly?
Yes, you can connect the custom domain name to your Subbly store. This gives your business a more professional look and feel.
Does Subbly offer any integrations with other tools?
Subbly integrates with popular shipping carriers, payment gateways, and marketing platforms. However, its integration options are limited compared to some competitors.
What kind of support does Subbly offer?
Subbly provides email support and a comprehensive knowledge base with articles and tutorials. They also have a very helpful community forum where you can simply connect with other Subbly users.
Is Subbly suitable for large businesses?
While Subbly can accommodate growing businesses, its features might not be robust enough for very large companies with complex needs. Consider alternatives like Chargebee if you require enterprise-level functionality.
