Standard Migration

5 min read

Overview

Standard migration is the path for merchants switching subscription apps, for example moving off Recharge, Loop, Appstle, or any other subscription platform, while keeping the same payment gateway they already use. That gateway can be Shopify Payments, Stripe, Authorize.net, Braintree, or PayPal Express. Because the gateway itself is not changing, there is no gateway connection step involved, and this process only covers moving your subscription data into Easy Subscriptions.

If you are also changing your payment gateway as part of this move, for example switching from a standalone Braintree account to billing through Shopify, use the gateway specific migration guide for Braintree, Authorize.net, or PayPal Express instead, since those guides include an additional connection step this one does not cover.

Before starting, pause billing in your current subscription app. Pausing prevents customers from being charged twice while subscription contracts are being transferred.

Step by Step Migration Guide

Step 1: Confirm Your Payment Gateway Is Already Connected to Shopify

Standard migration assumes your payment gateway, whether Shopify Payments, Stripe, Authorize.net, Braintree, or PayPal Express, is already connected and processing payments on Shopify through your current subscription app. If your gateway is not yet connected to Shopify at all, follow the relevant gateway specific guide first, then return here to move your subscription data.

Step 2: Open Easy Subscriptions

From Shopify admin, go to Apps, then Easy Subscriptions.

Step 3: Go to Import Settings

Inside Easy Subscriptions, click Settings, then find the Import Subscription section.

Step 4: Download the CSV Template

Click Download to get the sample CSV file. This template defines the exact column structure Easy Subscriptions requires for import.

Step 5: Export Existing Subscription Data

Export subscription data from your current subscription app, such as Recharge, Loop, or Appstle. Include customer details, product names, billing intervals, and cycle dates.

Step 6: Format the CSV File

Match your exported data to the sample template’s columns, including Subscription ID, customer information, product details, and billing intervals. If any customer records are missing from your export, add them with an email address, first name, and last name, since Shopify uses these fields to send automated subscription update emails.

Step 7: Import the Data to Shopify

Return to the Import Subscription section in Easy Subscriptions and upload the completed CSV. If you are migrating a large number of subscribers, note that Shopify supports bulk import operations that do not count against standard API limits, which keeps large imports from timing out or getting throttled.

Step 8: Review the Import Logs

Download the Import Logs to confirm the import completed correctly. Missing or mismatched entries appear here so you can fix and re-import them.

Step 9: Resume Billing

Once the import log confirms a clean migration, reactivate billing. Recurring orders are now manageable directly from Shopify admin through Easy Subscriptions, using the same payment gateway as before.

Tips for a Smooth Migration

Confirm your existing gateway is already connected and process payments on Shopify before starting.
Keep billing paused until the import log confirms a clean migration.
Fill in email, first name, and last name for any customer records missing those fields before import.
Use a fresh copy of the CSV template each time, since Easy Subscriptions may update the required format.
Contact support if import logs show unresolved errors after a re-import attempt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which subscription apps does Standard migration cover switching from?

Any subscription app, including Recharge, Loop, and Appstle. As long as your payment gateway is not changing, this guide applies regardless of which app you are moving away from.

Do I need to reconnect my payment gateway if it is already working with my current app?

No. If Shopify Payments, Stripe, Authorize.net, Braintree, or PayPal Express is already connected and processing payments through your current subscription app, no additional gateway connection is needed for Standard migration.

How is Standard migration different from the Braintree, Authorize.net, or PayPal Express guides?

Those guides include an extra step to connect or reconfigure the gateway itself for use with Shopify subscriptions. Standard migration skips that step entirely, since the gateway connection already exists.

What customer fields are required if a customer record is missing from my export?

Email address, first name, and last name. Shopify uses these to send automated messages about subscription contract updates, and missing them can cause an import row to fail.

Can I migrate a large number of subscribers at once?

Yes. Shopify supports bulk import operations for large volumes of customer and subscription data without incurring standard API limit costs.

Will my customers be double billed during migration?

Only if billing is not paused beforehand. Pause billing in your current app before starting the CSV import, and do not resume it until the import logs confirm a clean import.

What happens if some subscriptions fail to import?

The Import Logs flag exactly which rows failed and why. Most failures are formatting mismatches with the CSV template or missing required customer fields. Fix the flagged rows and re-upload the file.

How long does the migration take?

Preparing and importing the CSV file typically takes under an hour. Larger subscriber lists take longer to process but do not require additional manual steps.