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Overview
Not sure whether to set up a membership or a package for your clients? This article breaks down the key differences so you can choose the right option for your business. Think of packages as one-offs, and memberships as recurring — but there’s more to it than that.
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Prerequisites
Before you begin:
- Decide if your offer is one-time or recurring
- Know how many credits you want to include
- Choose whether credits expire or refresh
Step-by-step comparison
Memberships
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Recurring billing (weekly, monthly, yearly — you choose the cycle)
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Credits can refresh daily, weekly, or monthly
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You can segment credits by session type
e.g. 5 credits/week for “Strength” and 2 credits/week for “Cardio”
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Flexible expiration options:
- Credits can expire on next allocation
- Or you can set a custom expiration window
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Cannot be extended or reactivated once archived
Tip: You’ll need to sell a new membership if one ends or is cancelled.
Packages
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One-time payment — members pay once
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Can include limited or unlimited credits
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Credits can apply to one or many session types
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Credit expiration can be:
- A set duration (e.g. 30 days)
- Or based on when the first credit is used
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Extendable: You can push the expiry date forward as needed
Tip: Handy if a member is injured, pregnant, or can’t attend for a while.
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Credits can start:
- On a specific date
- Or upon first use — ideal for flexible start times
Key differences
| Feature | Memberships | Packages |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Recurring | One-time |
| Credit refresh | Yes (per period) | No (one-time allocation) |
| Session type segmentation | Yes | No |
| Expiration | Custom or per allocation | Set duration or usage-based |
| Start options | Set date only | Set date or first use |
| Extend validity | ❌ Not allowed | ✅ Can be extended |
| Reactivate after expiry | ❌ Requires new membership | ✅ Can extend existing package |
Expected outcome
You’ll be able to choose the right product type based on how you want to manage billing, credits, and expiration. Memberships suit ongoing commitments, while packages offer flexible, one-off solutions.
FAQs
Q: Can I stack different types of credits in a membership?
A: Yes — you can create separate rules for different session types.
Q: Can I offer a 10-pack of classes?
A: Yes — that’s a perfect use case for a package with 10 credits.
Q: Can I pause or extend a membership?
A: No — memberships can’t be paused or extended. Use a package if flexibility is needed.
Still need help?
Reach out to our support team via [email protected]
