Automate subscriptions with Shopify Flow

Appstle Subscriptions integrates natively with Shopify Flow, Shopify’s built-in automation platform. You can build powerful subscription automation — pausing after failed payments, applying loyalty discounts, swapping seasonal products — without managing API keys or writing backend code. Flow runs within Shopify’s authenticated context, so no credentials are required.

Shopify Flow is available on Shopify Basic plan and above. The Appstle Flow integration must be enabled in your Appstle admin before creating workflows.

Getting started

Enable the integration

In the Appstle admin, go to Settings → Integrations → Shopify Flow and enable the integration.

Open the Flow editor

Navigate to the Shopify Flow editor in your Shopify admin.

Create a workflow

Click Create workflow, choose an Appstle trigger, add conditions if needed, and attach Appstle actions.

Triggers

Triggers fire automatically when subscription events occur. All triggers include the full subscription and customer property sets described below.

Subscription lifecycle

Trigger	Description
Subscription Created	Fires when a new subscription contract is created
Subscription Activated	Fires when a subscription is activated from paused or cancelled status
Subscription Cancelled	Fires when a subscription is cancelled
Subscription Paused	Fires when a subscription is paused
Subscription Updated	Fires when subscription details change (products, quantity, address, etc.)

Billing events

Trigger	Description
Subscription Billing Success	Fires when a billing attempt succeeds
Subscription Billing Failure	Fires when a billing attempt fails
Upcoming Order Notification	Fires when an upcoming order notification is sent based on configured buffer days

Schedule changes

Trigger	Description
Subscription Billing Interval Changed	Fires when the billing frequency is changed
Subscription Next Order Date Changed	Fires when the next billing/order date is modified

Trigger properties

Subscription properties

Included with every trigger:

Property	Type	Description
`Subscription ID`	Number	Internal subscription contract ID
`GraphQL Subscription ID`	String	GraphQL ID of the subscription contract
`Status`	String	`ACTIVE`, `PAUSED`, `CANCELLED`, `EXPIRED`, or `FAILED`
`Next Billing Date`	String	Next billing date in UTC ISO 8601. Empty string if not `ACTIVE`.
`Billing Interval`	String	Billing frequency unit: `DAY`, `WEEK`, `MONTH`, `YEAR`
`Billing Interval Count`	Number	Number of intervals between billings (e.g. `2` + `MONTH` = every 2 months)
`Delivery Interval`	String	Delivery frequency unit: `DAY`, `WEEK`, `MONTH`, `YEAR`
`Delivery Interval Count`	Number	Number of intervals between deliveries
`Original Order ID`	Number	ID of the first order. `0` for imported contracts.
`Original Order Name`	String	Name of the first order. Empty string for imported contracts.
`Cancel Reason`	String	Reason for cancellation (empty string if not cancelled)
`Pause Reason`	String	Reason for pause (empty string if not paused)
`Total Successful Orders`	Number	Total successfully completed orders for this contract
`Line Items`	Array	Array of line items (see schema below)
`Order Note Attributes`	Array	Array of key-value note attributes

Customer properties

Included with every trigger:

Property	Type	Description
`customer_reference`	Reference	Shopify customer reference
`Customer Email`	Email	Customer’s email address
`Customer Phone`	String	Customer’s phone number (empty string if not available)
`Customer Display Name`	String	Customer’s display name
`Customer First Name`	String	Customer’s first name
`Customer Last Name`	String	Customer’s last name

Billing event properties

For Subscription Billing Success, Subscription Billing Failure, and Upcoming Order Notification only:

Property	Type	Description
`Billing Attempt ID`	Number	ID of the billing attempt
`Billing Attempt Status`	String	`SUCCESS`, `FAILURE`, `PENDING`, or `SCHEDULED`
`Billing Attempt Count`	Number	Number of billing attempts
`Billing Date`	String	Scheduled billing date (UTC ISO 8601)
`Billing Attempt Time`	String	Actual attempt timestamp (UTC ISO 8601)

For Subscription Billing Success only:

Property	Type	Description
`Recurring Order ID`	Number	Order ID from successful renewal
`Recurring Order Name`	String	Order name from successful renewal
`order_reference`	Reference	Shopify order reference

Subscription Updated properties

For the Subscription Updated trigger only:

Property	Type	Description
`Contract Amount`	Number	Total line item amount in contract currency
`Contract Amount USD`	Number	Total line item amount converted to USD

Line items schema

Each object in the Line Items array contains:

Field	Type	Description
`lineItemId`	String	ID of the line item
`variantId`	Float	Shopify variant ID
`graphqlVariantId`	String	GraphQL variant ID
`productId`	ID	Shopify product ID (GraphQL format)
`quantity`	Int	Quantity
`graphqlSellingPlanId`	String	Selling plan ID for this line
`sellingPlanName`	String	Selling plan name
`customAttributes`	Array	Key-value custom attributes on the line item

Actions

All actions return at minimum a success_message output field. Every action is logged in the subscription activity log with source SHOPIFY_FLOW.

Line item management

Add Line Item

Add a product variant to an existing subscription.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`contract_id`	String	Yes	Subscription contract ID
`product_variant_id`	String	Yes	Shopify product variant ID to add
`quantity`	String	Yes	Quantity to add
`is_one_time_product`	String		`"true"` to add as a non-recurring line item. Default: `"false"`

Output fields: contract_id, product_variant_id, quantity, is_one_time_product, success_message

Remove Line Item

Remove a product from a subscription.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`contract_id`	String	Yes	Subscription contract ID
`line_id`	String	Yes	Line item ID to remove
`remove_discount`	String		Whether to also remove the associated discount

Output fields: contract_id, line_id, remove_discount, success_message

Update Line Item Quantity

Change the quantity of a product in a subscription.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`contract_id`	String	Yes	Subscription contract ID
`line_id`	String	Yes	Line item ID
`quantity`	String	Yes	New quantity

Output fields: contract_id, line_id, quantity, success_message

Update Line Item Price

Change the price of a product in a subscription.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`contract_id`	String	Yes	Subscription contract ID
`line_id`	String	Yes	Line item ID
`base_price`	String	Yes	New base price
`remove_pricing_policy`	Boolean		Remove the existing pricing policy. Default: `false`

Output fields: contract_id, line_id, base_price, remove_pricing_policy, success_message

Update Line Item Attributes

Update custom attributes on a line item.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`contract_id`	String	Yes	Subscription contract ID
`line_id`	String	Yes	Line item ID
`attributes`	String	Yes	JSON array of key-value pairs

Output fields: contract_id, line_id, success_message

Replace Variant

Swap a product variant for another in a subscription.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`contract_id`	String	Yes	Subscription contract ID
`old_variant_id`	String	Yes	Comma-separated variant IDs to replace
`new_variant_id`	String	Yes	Comma-separated variant IDs with optional quantities (e.g. `11111:2,22222:1`)
`old_line_id`	String		Specific line ID when multiple lines share the same variant
`carry_forward_discount`	String		Whether to carry the existing discount to the new variant

Output fields: contract_id, old_variant_id, new_variant_id, success_message

Subscription management

Update Subscription Status

Set a subscription’s status to Active, Paused, or Cancelled.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`contract_id`	String	Yes	Subscription contract ID
`status`	String	Yes	`ACTIVE`, `PAUSED`, or `CANCELLED`

Output fields: contract_id, status, success_message

Hide Subscription

Hide a subscription from the customer portal.Input fields: contract_id (required)Output fields: contract_id, success_message

Merge Subscriptions

Combine two subscriptions into one.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`source_contract_id`	String	Yes	Contract ID to merge from
`destination_contract_id`	String	Yes	Contract ID to merge into

Output fields: source_contract_id, destination_contract_id, success_message

Split Subscription

Split specific line items out into a new subscription contract.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`contract_id`	String	Yes	Subscription contract ID
`line_ids`	String	Yes	Comma-separated line item IDs to move
`attempt_billing`	String		Whether to immediately bill the new contract after splitting

Output fields: original_contract_id, new_contract_id, line_ids_moved, success_message

Update Order Note / Update Note Attributes

Update Order Note — sets the order note text on a subscription. Required: contract_id, order_note.Update Note Attributes — sets custom key-value note attributes. Required: contract_id, note_attributes (JSON array). Optional: overwrite_existing (boolean, default false). Output includes attributes_count.

Billing & schedule

Update Billing Interval

Change the billing frequency.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`contract_id`	String	Yes	Subscription contract ID
`billing_interval_count`	String	Yes	Number of intervals between billings
`billing_interval`	String	Yes	`DAY`, `WEEK`, `MONTH`, or `YEAR`

Output fields: contract_id, billing_interval_count, billing_interval, success_message

Update Frequency by Selling Plan

Change billing and delivery frequency using an existing selling plan.Input fields: contract_id (required), selling_plan_id (required)Output fields: contract_id, selling_plan_id, selling_plan_name, billing_interval_count, billing_interval, delivery_interval_count, delivery_interval, success_message

Update Billing Date

Reschedule the next billing date. Dates must use ISO 8601 format: 2026-03-15T10:00:00Z.Input fields: contract_id (required), next_billing_date (required)Output fields: contract_id, next_billing_date, success_message

Skip Order

Skip (or unskip) the next scheduled order.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`contract_id`	String	Yes	Subscription contract ID
`line_id`	String	Yes	Line item ID
`is_skip`	Boolean		`true` to skip, `false` to unskip. Default: `true`

Output fields: contract_id, line_id, is_skip, success_message

Attempt Billing

Trigger immediate billing. Requires either contract_id or billing_attempt_id.

The Attempt Billing action requires additional permission. Contact support@appstle.com to enable it for your store.

Output fields: contract_id, success_message

Update Max / Min Cycles

Update Max Cycles — set the maximum billing cycles before auto-cancellation. Required: contract_id, max_cycles.Update Min Cycles — set the minimum billing cycles before the customer can cancel. Required: contract_id, min_cycles.

Discounts & pricing

Apply Discount Code

Apply a discount code to a subscription.Input fields: contract_id (required), discount_code (required)Output fields: contract_id, discount_code, success_message

Remove Discount

Remove a discount. Provide either discount_id or discount_code.Input fields: contract_id (required), discount_id or discount_code (one required)Output fields: contract_id, discount_id, success_message

Update Pricing Policy

Update pricing policy with cycle-based discounts.Input fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`contract_id`	String	Yes	Subscription contract ID
`base_price`	String	Yes	Base price for the line item
`line_id`	String		Specific line item ID — if omitted, applies to all lines
`cycles`	String		JSON defining cycle-based pricing adjustments
`overwrite_existing`	Boolean		Replace existing pricing policy. Default: `false`

Output fields: contract_id, line_id, base_price, success_message

Delivery & shipping

Update Delivery Interval

Change the delivery frequency.Input fields: contract_id (required), delivery_interval_count (required), delivery_interval (required — DAY, WEEK, MONTH, or YEAR)

Update Delivery Method

Change the shipping method on a subscription.Input fields: contract_id (required), delivery_method_title (required). Optional: delivery_method_code, delivery_method_presentment_title, delivery_method_id.

Update Delivery Price

Change the shipping price. Required: contract_id, delivery_price.

Update Shipping Address

Update the delivery address.Required fields: contract_id, address1, city, country_codeOptional fields: address2, province, province_code, zip, country, first_name, last_name, phone, company

Update Payment Method

Send a payment method update request to the customer. Required: contract_id.

Example workflows

Auto-pause after 3 failed payments

Trigger: Subscription Billing FailureCondition: Billing Attempt Count ≥ 3Action: Update Subscription Status → PAUSED

Apply loyalty discount after 6 months

Trigger: Subscription Billing SuccessCondition: Total Successful Orders ≥ 6Action: Apply Discount Code → LOYAL10

Notify team on high-value cancellation

Trigger: Subscription CancelledCondition: Contract Amount > 100Action: Send Slack notification (via Shopify Flow’s Slack connector)

Auto-swap seasonal products

Trigger: Scheduled (monthly, via Shopify Flow’s scheduler)Action: Replace Variant → swap old variant ID for new variant ID

Field reference

Attributes JSON format — for attributes and note_attributes fields:

[
  {"key": "gift_message", "value": "Happy Birthday!"},
  {"key": "delivery_instructions", "value": "Leave at door"}
]

Replace Variant format:

old_variant_id: comma-separated IDs to replace — 12345,67890
new_variant_id: comma-separated IDs with optional quantities — 11111:2,22222:1

Get Started

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Resources

Automate subscriptions with Shopify Flow

Getting started

Triggers

Subscription lifecycle

Billing events

Schedule changes

Trigger properties

Subscription properties

Customer properties

Billing event properties

Subscription Updated properties

Line items schema

Actions

Line item management

Subscription management

Billing & schedule

Discounts & pricing

Delivery & shipping

Example workflows

Field reference

​Getting started

​Triggers

​Subscription lifecycle

​Billing events

​Schedule changes

​Trigger properties

​Subscription properties

​Customer properties

​Billing event properties

​Subscription Updated properties

​Line items schema

​Actions

​Line item management

​Subscription management

​Billing & schedule

​Discounts & pricing

​Delivery & shipping

​Example workflows

​Field reference

Getting started

Triggers

Subscription lifecycle

Billing events

Schedule changes

Trigger properties

Subscription properties

Customer properties

Billing event properties

Subscription Updated properties

Line items schema

Actions

Line item management

Subscription management

Billing & schedule

Discounts & pricing

Delivery & shipping

Example workflows

Field reference