Pause Subscription - API Test
Pause, Not Cancel
Decrease voluntary churn by offering subscribers a pause option instead of forcing a binary stay-or-cancel decision.
What Is Pause Subscriptions?
Understand how Recurly's Pause feature works and why it's a powerful tool in your retention toolkit.
The Pause Concept in a Nutshell
Recurly's Pause Subscriptions feature lets you temporarily halt a subscriber's billing cycle without canceling their subscription. Instead of losing a subscriber entirely when they need a break—whether due to travel, seasonal usage patterns, budget constraints, or simply wanting time away—you give them a middle option. The subscription enters a paused state: no invoices are generated, no charges occur, and the subscriber's account remains intact.
Think of it this way: cancellation is a door that's hard to reopen. A pause is a bookmark—the subscriber's place is held, their payment method stays on file, and their return path is frictionless. This distinction has a profound impact on your retention metrics and lifetime revenue per subscriber.
Pause Is Initiated
A pause can be triggered by the subscriber via self-service, by your team in the Admin Console, or via the Recurly API. You specify a remaining billing cycles value to skip.
Current Period Completes
The pause starts at the end of the current billing period—ensuring the subscriber gets the full value of what they've paid for without needing refunds.
Subscription Enters Paused State
While paused, Recurly will not generate any invoices. The subscriber's account, plan details, coupons, and payment methods all remain intact.
Automatic Resumption
When the specified cycles elapse, Recurly automatically resumes the subscription and generates a new invoice. No manual action is required.
⏸️ Pause
Billing stops temporarily. Account stays active. Payment method retained. Automatic resumption. Frictionless return.
❌ Cancel
Subscription terminates. Subscriber must re-signup. Reacquisition cost is high. Stored data may be lost.
When a subscriber clicks "Cancel," present pause as an alternative before they finalize. This intercept can convert would-be cancellations into temporary pauses.
Quick Concepts to Remember
Updated about 3 hours ago