Shipping profile
A comprehensive guide to set up custom shipping rates for subscription products by configuring shipping profiles in Shopify and applying them to specific products, plans, and zones.
Shipping Profiles allow you to create customized shipping rates specifically for subscription products. This powerful feature enables you to offer special shipping deals to subscribers in specific regions, creating incentives for customers to choose subscription purchases.
What is a Shipping Profile?
A Shipping Profile is a custom shipping configuration that lets you set different shipping rates for:
Specific products with subscription options
Customers in particular zones (e.g., domestic, international regions)
Different delivery frequencies
This feature is available for Advanced plan and above.
If you downgrade from Advanced to a lower plan, your shipping profiles will still exist in the system but you won't be able to edit or create new profiles until you upgrade again.
Why Use Shipping Profiles?
Shipping Profiles help you create competitive advantages and boost subscription conversions:
✓ Incentivize subscriptions - Offer free or discounted shipping exclusively for subscription purchases ✓ Flexible pricing - Set different rates based on subscription frequency (reward quarterly subscribers with lower shipping) ✓ Increase conversions - Remove shipping barriers that prevent customers from subscribing ✓ Strategic positioning - Differentiate subscription shipping from one-time purchases
How to Set Up a Shipping Profile
Step 1: Create and Configure Shipping Settings in Shopify
Navigate to Shipping settings
In Joy Subscriptions, go to Settings → Shipping → Shipping Profile
Click + New profile to create a new shipping profile
Enter a descriptive profile name (this is for your reference only - customers won't see it)
Click "Edit on Shopify"
This button appears at the top right of the profile page
You'll be redirected to Shopify's shipping and delivery settings
Set up custom shipping rates in Shopify
Define the shipping rate (e.g., $5.00, free shipping, 10% off standard rate)
Select the shipping zone (e.g., United States, Europe, International)
Configure any conditions or rules as needed
Save your shipping configuration in Shopify
Return to Joy Subscriptions
Navigate back to Joy Subscriptions app
Click "Refresh" button to sync the latest shipping settings from Shopify
Your zones and rates will now appear in Joy Subscriptions
NEVER add products directly to the shipping profile in Shopify.
Adding products in Shopify Admin will cause system errors. If you accidentally add products in Shopify, delete them immediately. Always add subscription products through Joy Subscriptions (Step 2).
Check the interactive demo below for visually illustrated guide
Step 2: Add Subscription Products and Activate
Add subscription products
In the "Add subscription products" section, use the search bar to find products
Or click "Browse" to see all available subscription products
Select products or specific plans
Choose entire products (all subscription plans will use this shipping profile)
Or select specific subscription plans (e.g., only the monthly plan, not the annual plan)
Review your selections
Verify the correct products and plans are added
Ensure the shipping profile name is clear and identifiable
Check that shipping zones and rates from Shopify are correctly synced
Save to activate the profile
Click Save to activate the shipping profile
The profile is now live and will apply to checkout for the selected subscription products
Use "Refresh" if you need to sync any future changes from Shopify
Check the interactive demo below for visually illustrated guide
How Shipping Rates Are Applied (Shipping Logic)
Understanding how Joy Subscriptions determines which shipping rate to apply is crucial for setting up your profiles correctly.
1. Shipping Priority Order
The system applies shipping rates in this priority order (from highest to lowest):
Priority 1: Free Shipping (in subscription setup) If a product has "Free shipping" enabled in its subscription settings → Free shipping applies globally for that subscription product
Priority 2: Subscription Shipping Profile If a product is assigned to a Subscription Shipping Profile → Rates from that profile are used
Priority 3: Shopify Default Shipping If a product doesn't have free shipping AND isn't in a profile → Shopify's default shipping rates apply
2. Shipping by Purchase Type
One-time purchases:
Always use Shopify default shipping
Subscription shipping profiles do NOT affect one-time purchases
This allows you to have different shipping strategies for subscriptions vs one-time orders
Subscription purchases:
Use Joy custom shipping profile (if the product is assigned to one)
If no profile is assigned, fallback to Shopify default shipping
3. Free Shipping & Profile Interaction
Free shipping and shipping profiles cannot both be active for the same product.
When you create a new shipping profile:
If products in that profile already have
Free shippingenabledThe system will automatically untick the Free shipping option
The product will switch to using rates from the new profile
When you enable Free shipping on a product:
If that product is assigned to a shipping profile
The product will be automatically removed from the profile
Free shipping takes priority
4. Profile Assignment Rules
Each subscription product can belong to only ONE shipping profile at a time
Assigning a product to a new profile will automatically remove it from any previous profile
When you delete a profile, all products in that profile return to using Shopify default shipping
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