Subscription Lifecycle Management & Events
Manage the entire lifecycle of a subscription, including pausing, resuming, cancelling, and handling renewal events.
Subscription Lifecycle Management & Events is a free Stripe Payments & SaaS Billing Systems lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Stripe Payments & SaaS Billing Systems learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Subscription Lifecycle Overview
Managing subscriptions isn't just about creating them; it's about handling their entire journey! This journey, or lifecycle, includes various states like active, paused, or canceled.
Understanding how to transition between these states programmatically is crucial for building flexible and user-friendly subscription services.
- Customer Experience: Allows users flexibility.
- Retention: Pausing can prevent churn.
- Business Logic: React to changes in subscription status.
Pausing Subscriptions
Sometimes, customers need a break without fully canceling. This is where pausing a subscription comes in handy!
When a subscription is paused, Stripe stops collecting payments for a specified period or until resumed. This can significantly improve customer retention by offering flexibility instead of forcing a full cancellation.
Pausing via Stripe API
You can pause a subscription using the Stripe API by updating the subscription and setting the pause_collection parameter. Here's a quick Java example:
import com.stripe.Stripe;
import com.stripe.exception.StripeException;
import com.stripe.model.Subscription;
import com.stripe.param.SubscriptionUpdateParams;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;
public class PauseSubscription {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Stripe.apiKey = "sk_test_YOUR_SECRET_KEY"; // Replace with your actual secret key
String subscriptionId = "sub_12345"; // Replace with a real subscription ID
try {
SubscriptionUpdateParams params = SubscriptionUpdateParams.builder()
.setPauseCollection(SubscriptionUpdateParams.PauseCollection.builder()
.setBehavior(SubscriptionUpdateParams.PauseCollection.Behavior.MARK_UNPAID)
.build())
.build();
Subscription subscription = Subscription.retrieve(subscriptionId);
subscription = subscription.update(params);
System.out.println("Subscription " + subscription.getId() + " paused. Status: " + subscription.getStatus());
} catch (StripeException e) {
System.err.println("Error pausing subscription: " + e.getMessage());
}
}
}Understanding Pause Behavior
In the previous example, we used MARK_UNPAID for pause_collection.behavior. This means any invoices due during the pause period will be marked as unpaid.
Other behaviors include:
VOID: Invoices due during the pause are voided.KEEP_AS_DRAFT: Invoices are created but remain in draft status.
Choose the behavior that best fits your business logic for how to handle billing during a pause.
Resuming Subscriptions
After a period of being paused, a customer might want to continue their subscription. Resuming a subscription brings it back to an active state, and billing will recommence according to its original schedule.
This is a straightforward process, often initiated by the customer through a self-service portal or by an administrator.
Resuming via Stripe API
To resume a paused subscription, you simply update it and set the pause_collection parameter to null. This tells Stripe to remove the pause and restart billing.
import com.stripe.Stripe;
import com.stripe.exception.StripeException;
import com.stripe.model.Subscription;
import com.stripe.param.SubscriptionUpdateParams;
public class ResumeSubscription {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Stripe.apiKey = "sk_test_YOUR_SECRET_KEY"; // Replace with your actual secret key
String subscriptionId = "sub_12345"; // Replace with a real subscription ID
try {
SubscriptionUpdateParams params = SubscriptionUpdateParams.builder()
.setPauseCollection(null) // Setting to null removes the pause
.build();
Subscription subscription = Subscription.retrieve(subscriptionId);
subscription = subscription.update(params);
System.out.println("Subscription " + subscription.getId() + " resumed. Status: " + subscription.getStatus());
} catch (StripeException e) {
System.err.println("Error resuming subscription: " + e.getMessage());
}
}
}Cancelling Subscriptions
Eventually, some customers will want to cancel their subscription. Stripe offers two main ways to cancel:
- Immediately: The subscription ends right away, and prorations might apply.
- At Period End: The subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle, then cancels. This is often preferred for customer experience.
Cancelling via Stripe API
To cancel a subscription, you use the Subscription.cancel() method. You can specify whether to cancel immediately or at the end of the current period.
import com.stripe.Stripe;
import com.stripe.exception.StripeException;
import com.stripe.model.Subscription;
import com.stripe.param.SubscriptionCancelParams;
public class CancelSubscription {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Stripe.apiKey = "sk_test_YOUR_SECRET_KEY"; // Replace with your actual secret key
String subscriptionId = "sub_12345"; // Replace with a real subscription ID
try {
// To cancel at the end of the current period:
SubscriptionCancelParams params = SubscriptionCancelParams.builder()
.setAtPeriodEnd(true)
.build();
Subscription subscription = Subscription.retrieve(subscriptionId);
subscription = subscription.cancel(params);
System.out.println("Subscription " + subscription.getId() + " status: " + subscription.getStatus() + ". Cancel at period end: " + subscription.getCancelAtPeriodEnd());
// To cancel immediately (setAtPeriodEnd(false) or omit):
// subscription = subscription.cancel();
// System.out.println("Subscription " + subscription.getId() + " canceled immediately. Status: " + subscription.getStatus());
} catch (StripeException e) {
System.err.println("Error canceling subscription: " + e.getMessage());
}
}
}Handling Renewal Events
Subscription renewals are key moments in the lifecycle. Stripe sends various webhook events that notify your application about these occurrences.
customer.subscription.updated: Fired when a subscription renews, changes, or is canceled.invoice.payment_succeeded: Indicates a successful payment for a renewal invoice.invoice.payment_failed: Signals a failed payment for a renewal invoice.
By listening to these events, you can update user access, send notifications, and log billing changes.
Quick Check: Subscription States
Which of the following actions can be performed to manage a subscription's lifecycle using Stripe's API?
Recap: Lifecycle Management
In this lesson, we explored how to manage the full lifecycle of a subscription using Stripe's API.
- You learned to pause subscriptions for flexibility.
- You saw how to resume paused subscriptions.
- We covered canceling subscriptions, both immediately and at the end of the billing period.
- Finally, we touched on the importance of webhook events for monitoring renewals and other critical lifecycle changes.
Mastering these concepts allows you to build robust and user-friendly subscription experiences!
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Subscription Lifecycle Management & Events” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Subscription Lifecycle Management & Events” is free to read here on the web, and the Stripe Payments & SaaS Billing Systems course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Stripe Payments & SaaS Billing Systems course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Subscription Lifecycle Management & Events”?
Manage the entire lifecycle of a subscription, including pausing, resuming, cancelling, and handling renewal events. You practise Stripe Payments & SaaS Billing Systems with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Stripe Payments & SaaS Billing Systems?
No prior experience is required. Stripe Payments & SaaS Billing Systems on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Subscription Lifecycle Management & Events” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Stripe Payments & SaaS Billing Systems lesson?
Yes. Every Stripe Payments & SaaS Billing Systems lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Handling Trial Periods and Plan Upgrades
- Implementing Prorations and Metered Billing
- Subscription Lifecycle Management & Events
- Coupons, Discounts, and Promotion Codes