How to set up a Post-Purchase Upsell Swap

Post-Purchase Upsell Swap lets you present customers with a limited-time offer after checkout that updates their subscription for future orders. Instead of changing the initial purchase, the feature swaps one subscription product for another, such as a larger pack size or a different delivery frequency, starting with the first recurring order, helping increase average order value (AOV) and long-term customer value (LTV) without disrupting the checkout experience.

This guide explains how Post-Purchase Upsell Swap works and when to use it.

How it works

A post-purchase upsell swap displays an offer after checkout and updates the customer’s subscription only if they accept it. The original checkout order stays unchanged. If the customer accepts the offer, Recharge updates the subscription in the background and applies the new configuration starting from the customer’s first recurring order.

Step 1 - Create the offer product

Create the product customers see on the post-purchase page before you configure the offer in Recharge. This product is not necessarily the same product Recharge adds to the customer’s subscription after they accept the offer.

1. In Shopify, create a new product for the post-purchase offer.
2. Name the product based on the promotion or action. For example, use Upgrade to quarterly for a quarterly subscription upgrade.
3. Set the product price to $0.
4. Set the product to not track inventory.
5. Add the product image you want customers to see on the post-purchase page.
6. In Recharge, add a one-time plan to the product so Recharge can access the product from Shopify.

Step 2 - Create the post-purchase offer

Create the offer flow in Recharge to configure when the offer appears, what customers see, and which subscription product changes after acceptance.

1. In Recharge, go to Cross-Sell & Upsell and select Post-Purchase Offers.
2. Click Create new.
3. Select Upsell Swap.

4. Click Get started.

   

Step 3 - Configure the trigger

The trigger controls when the post-purchase offer appears. Use trigger conditions to define the checkout or customer criteria that must be met before Recharge shows the offer.

1. Select the Trigger node.
2. Click + Add to choose the conditions for the offer.
3. Optional - Click + Add or + Or to add additional triggers.
4. Click Apply.

The trigger does not define the subscription product being swapped. Configure the product being swapped from in the Swap a subscription node.

Step 4 - Configure the upsell offer product

The upsell offer product is the product customers see on the post-purchase page. Use the Shopify product you created earlier for this step.

1. Select the Upsell offer product node.
2. Click + Select product.
3. Add the offer product you created in Shopify.
4. Select the product variant.
5. Choose the discount you want to provide.
6. Choose whether shipping is free or charged.
7. Choose whether to show a timer on the offer page.

8. Click Customize upsell offer to move on to the next step.

   

Step 5 - Customize the post-purchase page

Customize the post-purchase page so customers understand what changes when they accept the offer. Make the offer clear, especially when accepting, as accepting it changes future recurring orders.

1. Select Customize upsell offer on the Upsell offer product node.
2. Edit the page content to explain the upgrade or subscription change. Clearly state what happens after the customer accepts the offer.
3. Click Done to save your edits.
4. Click Apply to save your changes to the Upsell offer product node.

Step 6 - Configure the subscription swap

The swap controls the subscription change Recharge makes after the customer accepts the offer. Choose the product Recharge removes from the recurring subscription, and the product Recharge adds going forward.

1. Select the Swap a subscription node.
2. Click Select product under Swapping from to choose the subscription product Recharge should remove from the customer’s recurring order.
3. Specify the variant, plan, and quantity. The exact product must be in the customer’s checkout order for the post-purchase offer to display. Click Apply to save your changes.
4. Click Select product under Swapping to to choose the subscription product Recharge should add to the customer’s recurring order going forward.
5. Specify the variant, frequency, and quantity for the new subscription product.
6. Under Reschedule the customer's first recurring order date, choose how Recharge schedules the next recurring order. You can keep the existing recurring order date, reschedule it, or set it for a specific number of days after the original recurring date.

7. If the post-purchase offer applies to a checkout order, choose whether Recharge applies the scheduling setting to all items in the cart or only to the product being swapped to.

   

Step 7 - Activate and test the offer

Test the full flow before customers use it. Testing confirms that the offer appears at the right time and that Recharge updates the subscription after the customer accepts.

1. Click Save, then click Activate in the top-right corner to activate the post-purchase offer.
2. Start a test checkout with the Swapping from product in the cart.
3. Accept the post-purchase offer.
4. Wait 5-10 minutes after accepting the offer.
5. Open the test customer’s subscription in Recharge.
6. Confirm the customer’s first recurring order now includes the Swapping to product.

Recharge may initially show the original product after the customer accepts the offer. This is expected. Check the test customer subscription again after 5-10 minutes.Considerations

Considerations

Consider the following when using Post-Purchase Upsell Swap:

Frequently asked questions