Maintenance subscription setup controls in 4 tools

• Stripe: Offer a free trial by including a 0 USD item in the subscription. Stripe
• PayPal Developer: Create separate plans for different currencies, because each plan allows only one currency_code. PayPal Developer
• Frappe: Configure the billing cycle by setting the Billing Interval and Billing Interval Count fields. Frappe
• WooCommerce: Manually change recurring tax line items if you need to change recurring taxes on an existing subscription. WooCommerce

For renewal configuration, taxes calculated at the time of sign-up are applied for all renewal payments, according to WooCommerce. This ties the tax calculation to the initial subscription state rather than recalculating it at each renewal date, unless the recurring tax line items are changed manually. Service managers should verify how their specific integration handles these pre-calculated tax lines during the renewal process. When configuring maintenance agreements, distinguish between the tax snapshot taken at sign-up and any later changes in tax regulations or product pricing. The documented behavior covers renewal tax line items only, and those items can be changed manually.

The comparison method relies exclusively on explicit, documented controls found within each publisher's official guidance. For Stripe Billing, the scope is limited to trial configuration rules, specifically noting that an integration must use the version dated 2026-09-30.endive or later to access these features Stripe. This version requirement serves as a hard boundary for what can be configured in that specific environment. This comparison covers only the trial rules in that Stripe guide.

For PayPal subscription plans, the focus is currency handling: creating a plan involves associating a product ID and setting a single currency code for each plan.

ERPNext subscription plans are evaluated through their interval-based configuration fields. The comparison isolates the specific inputs required: Currency, Item, Billing Interval, and Billing Interval Count. The example of separate monthly and yearly plans is illustrative rather than a required structure.

WooCommerce Subscriptions are assessed by their renewal tax and payment settings, including the manual process required when recurring taxes change. Automatic renewals depend on gateway support.

The documentation for configuring trial offers on subscriptions distinguishes between free and paid setups based on item pricing. To offer a free trial subscription, the system requires including a 0 USD item in the subscription Stripe. When a subscription contains only trial offers with all prices set to 0 USD, the status becomes trialing. Conversely, if the subscription includes a regular price item or trial offers have a non-zero price, the status will be active, incomplete, or past_due.

Calendar calculations for trial end dates follow specific month-based logic rather than simple day counts. For example, a two-month trial that starts on February 28 ends on April 28, not April 30, according to Stripe. Another documented instance shows that a two-month trial starting on January 31 ends on March 31. Both examples count whole calendar months from the start date.

When setting up maintenance agreement trials, verify whether your plan uses zero-dollar items or paid introductory periods. If you use a 0 USD item, confirm the subscription contains only trial offers, all priced at 0 USD, so the status reads trialing. If you use a paid trial, ensure the status reflects active, incomplete, or past_due states. Check the start date against the two calendar examples above when you estimate the trial end date.

When a maintenance agreement requires billing in a second currency, the setup path differs by tool. The documentation below separates the single-currency restriction in subscription plans from the interval fields that define a recurring charge.

PayPal subscription plan currency rules

The Integrate Subscriptions | PayPal Developer guide states that a subscription plan accepts only one currency_code. PayPal Developer To offer a subscription in another currency, create a new subscription plan rather than modifying the existing one. When creating this additional plan, change the value of the product_id parameter to the ID returned when you created the product. This associates the new currency-specific plan with the same underlying product definition already established in the system.

ERPNext subscription plan configuration fields

The Subscription Plan | ERPNext Documentation outlines specific fields for defining how a service is billed over time. First, select the Currency and the Item being billed. These two fields establish what is charged and in which monetary unit. Next, set the Billing Interval and Billing Interval Count. The interval defines the frequency (such as monthly or yearly), while the count specifies how many periods are covered in a single billing cycle. For example, Nova Industries can use Nova Device Care Monthly for a USD 199 monthly warranty service and a separate yearly plan for customers who pay in advance. Frappe The example shows separate plans for different payment cadences.

Review your current maintenance agreements to identify if any require multi-currency support or distinct billing frequencies. If a customer pays in a different currency than your primary plan, prepare to create a separate plan record following the single-currency constraint documented above. For reminders tied to these settings, see Configure 8 billing settings for automatic reminders.

If you need to change recurring taxes, you must manually change the recurring tax line items for the subscription. Pending renewal orders reflect the subscription's tax line items before checkout, so those manual changes apply at the next renewal (WooCommerce).

The customer can choose a different payment method for each renewal payment (WooCommerce). Some payment gateways support automatic renewals, as noted in the Subscription Payment Gateway Guide. Not every gateway provides this capability, so the availability of hands-off billing depends on the specific processor selected during setup. When a gateway does not support automatic renewals, the process relies on the customer’s active selection or intervention.

Check your current gateway against the guide to confirm whether it handles automatic renewals. If it does not, plan for the customer to select a payment method at each cycle. Review the tax line items on any active subscriptions to verify they match your current rates. If a tax change applies to a subscription’s recurring taxes, update those line items manually.

The following table consolidates the specific documented setup controls for each of the four tools. Each row lists only what that publisher’s documentation explicitly states about trial items, currency limits, billing intervals, or renewal payment handling. Use this as a quick check against your current configuration before adjusting any maintenance agreement subscription.

Fit depends on which control you need to adjust right now. If you are setting up an introductory period, the Stripe rule applies directly to the line item amount. If you are managing multi-currency agreements, the PayPal restriction means you must create separate plans rather than adding currencies to an existing one. For ERPNext users, the interval and count fields define the recurrence pattern for each plan. WooCommerce managers should note that automatic renewals depend on gateway support, so verify your selected processor handles recurring charges before relying on default behavior. For invoice handling across field jobs, see Service invoice software: 4 tools for field job handoffs.

Check your current tool against the table above and identify which single field needs adjustment for your next maintenance agreement.

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Which maintenance subscription setup controls do these four tools document?

Each tool covers a different setup area: Stripe trial items, PayPal currency limits, ERPNext billing intervals and WooCommerce renewal tax lines. Stripe details trial items and integration versions, while PayPal Developer specifies currency limits for each plan. Frappe outlines billing interval fields, and WooCommerce addresses recurring tax line changes. These sources define specific configuration points rather than a unified standard.

Does the Stripe trial setup apply to my integration version?

It applies only if your integration uses 2026-09-30.endive or later, according to Stripe. If your version is earlier, you cannot use this specific trial configuration method. Check your system settings to confirm the active version string matches this requirement.

Can one PayPal subscription plan use more than one currency?

No, a single plan supports only one currency code. PayPal Developer states that each subscription plan allows only one currency_code. To offer multiple currencies, you must create separate plans for each currency. Associate the appropriate product ID with each new plan.

How do I specify the billing interval in ERPNext?

Set the Billing Interval and Billing Interval Count fields directly on the subscription plan. Frappe documents these fields for defining how often charges occur. You also need to specify the Currency and Item associated with the plan. These four elements together determine the recurring charge structure for the customer.

How do WooCommerce renewal taxes and payment choices differ?

Pending renewal taxes reflect the subscription's tax line items before checkout, including any manual changes. If you need to change recurring taxes, you must manually update the recurring tax line items for the subscription, according to WooCommerce. Customers can choose a different payment method for each renewal, and only some gateways support automatic renewals. Review your current tax settings before making manual adjustments.