Subscription vs One-Time Price Calculator
Which model earns more over the customer's life.
Subscription lifetime revenue
$340.00
10.0 periods at 10.0% churn
How the Subscription vs One-Time Price Calculator works
Subscriptions trade a lower price now for revenue over time, and whether that trade wins depends almost entirely on churn. A subscription that loses half its members in three months earns less than a single full-price sale.
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price — check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare the two models?
Multiply the subscription price by expected lifetime in periods — roughly 1 ÷ monthly churn rate — and compare against the one-time price. At 10% monthly churn, average lifetime is ten months.
What discount should a subscription carry?
10-20% against the one-time price is typical for subscribe-and-save. The discount buys predictability and higher lifetime value; beyond about 25% you are usually discounting customers who would have repurchased anyway.
Why are subscriptions worth more even at a lower price?
Because acquisition is paid once and revenue recurs, and because forecastable revenue supports better inventory and cash planning. That only holds while churn stays low.
Which products suit subscriptions?
Consumables with a predictable replacement cycle — coffee, razors, supplements, pet food. Durable or occasional purchases rarely sustain one, because the buyer accumulates stock and cancels.