Set up a managed subscription

Learn how to configure managed billing and trigger subscription charges on demand.

Managed subscriptions allow you to trigger each rebill on demand, either in the FastSpring app or via the /subscriptions/charge API endpoint. This gives you precise control over every charge after the customer's initial purchase. Each rebill charges the original amount unless you update the subscription's price by posting to the /subscriptions endpoint.

Note: The invoice payment method is not supported for managed subscriptions.

Offline payment constraints
Due to regional banking regulations, offline payment methods are subject to the following processing limits:

  • Pix Automatico: You can only initiate one charge per 7-day period.
  • UPI (India): Charges over 15,000 INR fail automatically and enter dunning.
  • Processing: Pix and UPI require delayed payment status verification. The charge state remains pending until the network confirms the payment.

Set up a managed subscription

In the FastSpring app, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Catalog > Subscription Plans and open your subscription (if you haven't created one yet, see Create a subscription).
  2. Under Pricing, click Edit to open the Edit Subscription Pricing modal.
  3. Change Subscription Type to Managed (the Billing Cycle setting will be ignored).
  4. Click Save.

For a Managed subscription, FastSpring will charge the customer only when you initiate the charge via the API or the FastSpring app.

Charge a customer

You can trigger each subscription charge manually in the FastSpring app or programmatically via API. Choose your preferred method below.

FastSpring app

Charge customers directly in the FastSpring app by following the steps below:

  1. Go to Sales > Subscriptions.
  2. Select the subscription you want to charge. The subscription details page opens.
  3. In the Current Period panel (right), click Charge.

The new charge initiates immediately. Real-time payment methods process instantly, while offline methods (like Pix and UPI) remain pending until verified. This automatically reflects in the Charges section of the subscription details page.

Automate via API

Automate your managed subscription rebills via the REST API by posting to the /subscriptions/charge endpoint. Below you'll find the endpoint URL and a sample request body to trigger one or more rebills programmatically.

Endpoint: POST https://api.fastspring.com/subscriptions/charge

Request body:

Replace your-subscription-ID with your subscription ID:

{
  "subscriptions": [
    {
      "subscription": "your-subscription-ID"
    }
  ]
}