Planning Your Subscription Model
Before setting up WooCommerce subscriptions for your course, decide on your pricing model. Options include:
- Monthly access — students pay each month to stay enrolled
- Quarterly or annual plans — discount for longer commitments
- Lifetime access — one-time purchase with no recurring billing
Many course creators offer all three and let students choose.
Creating a Subscription Product for Your Course
In WordPress, navigate to Products → Add New. Set the product type to “Simple Subscription” and configure your billing interval and price.
If you’re using an LMS plugin like LearnDash, LifterLMS, or Tutor LMS, you can link subscription access to course enrollment through their WooCommerce integration.
Setting Up Free Trials
Free trials work great for courses — let potential students experience your content before committing to a paid subscription. In WPSubscription, enable the free trial option and set the trial length (e.g., 7 days free, then $29/month).
Adding Split Payment Options
For higher-priced courses, split payment makes the purchase more accessible. Use WPSubscription’s split payment feature to let students pay in 3, 6, or 12 installments instead of one lump sum.
This can significantly increase conversions for courses priced above $100.
Managing Student Subscriptions
From WooCommerce → Subscriptions, you can see which students are active, when their next payment is due, and their full payment history. Pause or cancel subscriptions for students who need a break without losing their data.
Launching
Before launch, test the full enrollment flow — from subscribing to accessing course content. Make sure payment confirmation emails are configured and your LMS grants access correctly on successful payment.