Charge for the club, not just the product
Free and paid tiers, monthly or annual billing, automatic pro-ration and gifted memberships — recurring revenue with perks people actually renew for.
Discounts buy the next order. A paid membership buys the next year — the customer commits up front, then shops more often to make the membership worth it. That's the Prime effect, and it isn't reserved for Amazon. Toki gives Shopify brands the full machinery: plans, billing, perks and the storefront experience.
Plans, billing and the boring parts
Membership commerce fails on operational details, so Toki handles all of them:
- Monthly or annual plans — or both, with annual discounts ("2 months free")
- Automatic renewals — customers cancel anytime, no support ticket required
- Pro-ration on upgrades and downgrades, mid-cycle, automatically
- Gifted memberships — bought by customers or comped from the admin
You design the club; Toki runs the subscription mechanics underneath it.
Perks that feel worth paying for
A membership needs a value story a customer can do in their head — "I order four times a year, free shipping alone pays for it." Toki perk types include:
- Always-on discounts — 15% off everything, applied automatically in checkout and at POS
- Free shipping — no minimums, the single most convincing perk in ecommerce
- Point multipliers — members earn 2× in your points program
- Early access — every drop, 48 hours before everyone else
- Members-only products and pricing — gated to active members
Perks apply automatically the moment someone joins. No codes, no "membership didn't work" tickets.
Paid tiers on top of free loyalty
The strongest programs layer both: free VIP tiers create the ladder, the paid membership sits at the top. Everyone earns points; the members pay for the best version of the program. One balance, one profile, one program to explain. For structure ideas, see our guide to membership levels — and how Toki compares in the membership management software landscape.
Works with your subscription stack
Selling subscription products already? Toki plays alongside Smartrr, Stay AI and Awtomic — reward subscribers with points, gate perks by membership, and let the loyalty program reduce subscription churn instead of competing with it.
Memberships work best when customers can see their status daily — which is exactly what wallet passes are for: the membership card lives on the lock screen, balance and tier updated live.
Paid memberships are included in Toki's plans — no separate membership app, no percentage of membership revenue. Install Toki or book a demo to model a membership for your store.
Frequently asked questions
How do paid memberships work on Shopify with Toki?
You create a membership plan — monthly or annual — and attach perks: always-on discounts, free shipping, point multipliers, early access, members-only products. Customers join in one click, Toki handles billing, renewals, pro-ration and cancellation, and perks apply automatically in checkout and at POS.
Can I offer both a free loyalty program and a paid membership?
Yes, and it's the setup we recommend: free points and tiers for everyone, a paid tier on top for your most committed customers. One program, one balance, one member profile — the paid tier just unlocks more.
What happens when someone upgrades or downgrades mid-cycle?
Toki pro-rates automatically. Upgrades charge the difference and switch perks instantly; downgrades apply at the next renewal. No support tickets, no manual refunds.
Can memberships be gifted or comped?
Both. Customers can buy a membership as a gift, and you can issue promotional or VIP comps from the admin in one click — useful for influencers, top customers or service recovery.
Why sell a membership instead of just running discounts?
A paid membership flips the psychology: instead of you paying for retention with margin, the customer pays for the right to shop with you — and then orders more often to justify it. Prime is the template: recurring revenue plus a lift in order frequency.