Subscriptions with Bitcoin: How to Pay and Get Paid with Recurring Bitcoin Payments
Introduction
Subscriptions dominate the digital economy because they provide businesses with predictable, recurring revenue and increased customer lifetime value, while offering consumers convenience, access to updated products, and a lower-cost alternative to large upfront purchases.
What many don’t realize is that subscription payments are not limited to bank accounts or credit cards. With subscription bitcoin models, recurring billing can also be done in bitcoin unlocking new business opportunities and reducing payment processing costs.
What is a Bitcoin Subscription?
A bitcoin subscription is a recurring payment model where services or content are billed automatically in bitcoin. Most bitcoin payments happen over the lightning network, a second-layer protocol built on Bitcoin and designed for instant, low-fee transactions on a global scale.
In other words, subscription in bitcoin lets businesses and users automate ongoing payments with Bitcoin: fast, borderless, and cost-efficient.
Why Use Bitcoin for Subscriptions?
Traditional subscription models based on credit cards or PayPal have drawbacks for both businesses and customers. By switching to subscription bitcoin services, businesses gain:
- No chargebacks – irreversible payments.
- Lower costs – avoiding burdensome processor fees.
- Support for microtransactions – pay-per-use or streaming payments.
For consumers, the benefits are just as strong:
- Global and borderless – accessible from anywhere.
- Privacy and control – no need to share sensitive card details. Instead with NWC budgets the user can limit how much access the subscription service has.
- Instant and low-cost – bitcoin payments settle in seconds at ~0–0.5% per payment.
The benefits of subscription in bitcoin are clear: lower costs for businesses, more freedom for users.
How Do Bitcoin Subscriptions Work for Businesses?
Today, tools like Flash make it simple for businesses to set up recurring bitcoin payments. Flash leverages Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC), an open protocol that enables apps to request permission to conduct transactions on behalf of users. With NWC, businesses can charge customers on a recurring basis and automatically earn subscription revenue in bitcoin.
For companies building a subscription bitcoin service in-house, the following components are needed:
- A bitcoin lightning wallet to receive payments.
- A way for customers to connect their wallet via NWC (e.g., Bitcoin Connect).
- Backend logic to manage recurring charges.
This plug-and-play wallet experience makes subscriptions with bitcoin a practical alternative to traditional card processors, which often require lengthy merchant account approvals and impose withdrawal delays.
How Do Bitcoin Subscriptions Work for Consumers?
Starting a subscription in bitcoin follows the same steps most users already know:
- Select a subscription plan
- Connect a bitcoin wallet
Video source: Flash
- Confirm the subscription and enjoy the service.
This familiar flow makes subscriptions in bitcoin accessible even for non-technical users.
Real-World Use Cases
Bitcoin subscriptions are already being used by businesses across industries:
- Streaming services (music & video): IndeeHub is a cinema-focused platform that reimagines the relationship between artists and audiences with recurring Bitcoin payments.
- SaaS & cloud services: Alby enables one-click installation and hosting of Alby Hubs, billed on a subscription bitcoin model.
- Donations & creator support: ZapPlanner lets users schedule recurring payments to creators, similar to Patreon, but powered by bitcoin.
- Hosting & infrastructure services: LNVPS is a Virtual Private Server hosting service with automatic renewal directly in bitcoin.
The Future of Subscriptions with Bitcoin
The future of subscriptions with Bitcoin is only just beginning as more businesses and consumers adopt cryptocurrency payments. Subscription bitcoin models allow them to cut down on expensive card processors, streamline recurring billing, and gain full control over their payment infrastructure. For consumers, it means borderless access, instant transactions, and a frictionless way to pay for services and support creators worldwide. Subscription bitcoin is not only a cost-effective alternative but also a digital-native solution built for the global economy.
If you’re ready to accept bitcoin payments for your subscription plans, contact us. We will help you integrate the right tools. Or start today by downloading a bitcoin wallet and trying one of the subscription bitcoin use cases mentioned above—you’ll see how easy it is to set up, pay, and get paid in bitcoin.