We are developing a free, open-source native subscription app for Shopify, designed to eliminate hidden fees and vendor lock-in. Your feedback will shape this community-driven project.

Introduction: About OctaByte and our mission

Hi, my name is Azeem Haider and I am the founder of OctaByte, a company dedicated to developing various open source projects. One of our notable contributions is FireO, an ORM package for Google Firestore. For monetization, OctaByte also provides fully managed servers for any kind of open source software.

The Problem: Lack of Native Subscription Solutions

Over the past year, we have been working on a subscription-based ecommerce system that allows users to sell both physical and digital products. During this journey, we explored numerous open-source platforms, including MedusaJS (a headless CMS alternative to Shopify), WooCommerce for WordPress, and Shopware (an open-source ecommerce platform). One thing became clear: there is a significant demand for a native subscription systembut currently no major e-commerce platform offers this functionality out of the box.

Users are often forced to hire developers or install third-party applications to implement subscriptions, which can be costly and inconvenient. These solutions often come with hidden costs, privacy concerns, and the dreaded vendor lock-in, making migrating to another platform a headache, if it’s even possible.

Disappointment with existing solutions

We had high hopes for Shopify’s new Shopify Subscription app, but after its release and review, we found it to be disappointing. The app is basic, full of glitches, and doesn’t seem to be maintained well. That was a disappointing outcome after so many expectations.

Our solution: a free, open-source subscription app

In response, we decided to build a subscription app that seamlessly integrates with Shopify. Unlike most other solutions, our app will open source and free to use. This is a game changer:

• Transparency and trust: The code will be publicly available for anyone to inspect, modify, or improve. This transparency promotes trust and allows the community to continuously improve the app.

• No supplier ties: You have full control over the app, host it on your server and retain full ownership of your data. There is no risk of being locked into a proprietary ecosystem.

• Community-driven development: The open-source nature of the app means that it will evolve based on user feedback. You can suggest features, report bugs, and even contribute code, making it a tool that truly meets the needs of its users.

• Cost benefits: Unlike third-party apps that often increase prices as your business grows, our open-source solution helps you avoid these pitfalls. You’ll enjoy the freedom to grow without worrying about rising costs or hidden fees.

The importance of your feedback and support

Building an open source project like this isn’t just about writing code, it requires a significant investment of time, effort and resources. Deploying and maintaining an app isn’t free, and since we’re offering this app for free, we’re counting on your support to keep us motivated.

Your feedback is crucial to shaping this project. We want to know what features you would like to see and how you envision using this app. Your input will guide our development efforts and ensure that the app meets the needs of the community from day one.

What we need from you

• Suggestions for features: Let us know what functionalities and features are important to you. We’ll start with the basics, but with your help we can expand the app into a comprehensive solution that meets a wide range of needs.

• Your vote of confidence: By supporting this project, you help bring it to life. The more votes and encouragement we get, the faster and more effectively we can develop and launch the app.

• Support and sharing: Spread the word and help build a community around this project. The more people know about it and contribute, the better the app will be.

Conclusion: Let’s build something great together

In short, your feedback and support are not only appreciated, they are essential. Together we can create an open-source subscription app that benefits everyone, without the drawbacks of existing solutions. Let us know what you think and let’s build something great together!

Stay informed: If you are interested in this project, you can subscribe to our newsletter and we will send you a notification as soon as the app is released.