Overview
With Subi, you can offer your customers the ability to purchase products and pay over time using flexible installment plans. This guide walks you through the process of creating an installment plan, using the example of a 4-month payment plan for a $2,000 sofa.
Note: You must create a Subscribe & Save plan in Subi to offer installment programs.
Prerequisites
You need to create the product in Shopify before configuring the installment plan in Subi.
A Subscribe & Save plan is required to set up installment payments.
Step 1: Create the Installment Product in Shopify
Log in to your Shopify dashboard.
Create a new product (e.g., “Luxury Modular Sofa”).
Set the price per installment (for a $2,000 sofa over 4 installments, set price as $500).
Add product descriptions and required details.
Publish the product so it’s live in Shopify.
Step 2: Link the Product and Create a New Plan in Subi
In your Subi dashboard, go to the Plans section.
Click Create plan.
In the modal, select Subscribe & Save.
Select the product you just created in Shopify (e.g., "Sofa").
Change the purchase option to Subscription (not "Subscription and One-Time Purchase").
This ensures customers can only buy the product as an installment plan.
Step 3: Set Up the Selling Plan
Choose how often customers are charged (e.g., Monthly for 4 monthly installments).
Step 4: Enable Automatic Expiration
In the Selling Plan settings, find the Automatic Expiration option.
Turn on Automatic Expiration so the installment contract ends after the set number of payments (e.g., after 4 monthly payments for the sofa).
Save and create your Subscribe and Save plan.
Step 5: Adjust Customer Permissions
Go to Customer Portal in your Subi dashboard.
Navigate to Customer Permissions.
Uncheck all options for skipping, canceling, or pausing the subscription to prevent customers from altering or canceling the installment agreement after purchase.
Step 6: Customizing the Installment Widget
To help customers clearly see they are purchasing an installment program (not subscribing), you can update the widget label and appearance in Subi:
Follow these steps to customize your widget:
Go to the Widgets tab in your Subi dashboard.
In the main menu, select Widgets to see all your subscription widget options.
Find the Subscribe & Save section.
Look for the Subscribe & Save card (usually labeled “Classic”).
Click Customize widget.
Select your widget layout and open customization.
On the “Subscribe & Save Widgets” screen, choose your preferred layout style (Compact, Classic, Comfy, Charmer).
Click Customize on the selected widget.
Edit the label from “Subscription” to “Installment.”
In the customization options, locate the price badge or label.
Change the price badge label from “Subscription” to reflect the number of installments (e.g., “4x Installment”) so customers know they’re agreeing to an installment payment schedule.
Adjust colors and layout as needed.
Match the widget to your store’s branding for a seamless experience.
Step 7: Final Review and Launch
Check all plan details: billing frequency, expiration, and permissions.
Step 8: Confirm on Your Storefront
Visit the product page to ensure the installment widget appears correctly for the chosen product.
Troubleshooting
If the widget doesn’t display as expected, use the Widget Troubleshooting Guide in your Subi dashboard.
For unresolved issues, contact Subi support via the chat icon at the bottom right of your page.
Next Steps
For more on customizing subscription and installment widgets, see our Widget Customization guide.
Need help? Contact Subi Support.