What is the difference between a subscription and a recurring payment?

In BetterUnite, a subscription connects a supporter to a membership plan. A recurring payment collects money on a schedule. They often work together, but they are not the same thing.

What is a subscription?

A membership subscription tracks a supporter's enrollment in a membership plan, including their membership status, term dates, and any benefits or access associated with the plan.

A subscription may include scheduled payments, but membership does not always require recurring charges. For example, an organization can grant a complimentary membership without collecting payments.

Example: A supporter joins your annual membership program. Their subscription tracks their membership term and benefits, while the payment schedule handles any automatic charges associated with the plan.

What is a recurring payment?

A recurring payment is an agreement to collect a set amount at regular intervals, such a monthly or annually. It tracks billing details, including the amount, payment method, charge schedule, and payment history. Recurring payments can support a membership subscription or exist independently as ongoing donations. Setting up a recurring donation does not, by itself, enroll the donor in a membership plan.

Example: A donor chooses to give $25 each month to support your organization without joining a membership program. This is a recurring payment, not a membership subscription.

How do they work together?

When a membership plan includes recurring billing, the subscription tracks the membership relationship and the payment schedule handles the charges. The distinction matters when managing changes:

Stopping renewal keeps the membership active through its current term, then lets it end without renewing.
Canceling a subscription ends the membership immediately and removes membership access.

Stopping renewal and canceling are different actions. Choose the option that matches when you want the membership to end.

Where can I review subscriptions and recurring payments?

Administrators can review membership subscriptions in the Membership Center, including plan details, billing dates, and invoice history. The Recurring Payments page provides billing agreements, charge history, and upcoming charge information.

In the Supporter Portal, supporters can review membership information under My Membership. Recurring donations are not tied to a subscription appear under Payments & Invoices.

For more details, see:

Need additional help?

We're here to help. Contact support@betterunite.com if you need assistance managing a membership subscription or recurring payment.