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Setting up a Content Drip subscription

8 min read 🗓 Updated February 19, 2026 ★ 96% found this helpful

A Content Drip Subscription lets you deliver digital content to customers over time while Content Vault automatically handles subscription billing, access control, and file delivery.

This setup is ideal for:

  • Memberships
  • Courses
  • Recipe clubs
  • Digital publications
  • Coaching programs
  • Ongoing content libraries

This guide walks through every step, including newer features like tiers, advanced pricing, custom delivery time & timezone, and month-based content delivery.

What Is a Content Drip Subscription?

A Content Drip Subscription allows you to:

  • Charge customers on a recurring basis
  • Release content on a fixed schedule (daily, weekly, monthly, or custom)
  • Control when and how customers access files
  • Manage everything from a single system (billing + delivery)

Unlike one-time digital downloads, drip subscriptions are designed for ongoing access and scheduled releases.

Step 1: Create a New Content Drip Subscription

From your Shopify admin:

Apps → Content Vault → Subscriptions → Create Subscription → Content Drip

Give your subscription an internal name. This name is not shown to customers.

Step 2: Attach a Shopify Product

Select the Shopify product customers will purchase to begin their subscription.

This product acts as:

  • The checkout entry point
  • The billing anchor
  • The access trigger for all drip content

💡 You only need one product, even if you plan to offer multiple plans using tiers.

Step 3: Configure Subscription Tiers (NEW)

Content Vault supports multiple tiers within a single subscription.

This allows you to:

  • Offer different prices (weekly / monthly / yearly)
  • Create plan-based access (e.g. Silver, Gold, VIP)
  • Avoid duplicating products

Each tier has its own:

  • Customer-facing name
  • Billing frequency
  • Pricing rules

Each tier has its own drip content schedule. If you want tiers to deliver the same content, you’ll need to configure the drip files for each tier.

Step 4: Set the Subscription Billing Frequency

Before configuring when content is delivered, you must define how often the customer is billed.

In the Subscription Frequency section, choose:

  • Frequency – how often the charge repeats (e.g. every 1, 3, 12)
  • Interval – the billing unit (Days, Weeks, Months, Years)

Examples:

  • Every 1 Month → Monthly subscription
  • Every 1 Year → Annual subscription
  • Every 3 Months → Quarterly subscription

This billing schedule controls:

  • When customers are charged
  • When renewals occur
  • How Shopify records the subscription lifecycle

💡 Important: Billing frequency is independent of drip delivery. You can bill monthly but deliver content weekly, daily, or monthly.

💰 Step 5: Advanced Pricing Options (NEW)

Each tier can override the product’s default price using advanced pricing.

Available options:

  • Fixed price (replace the product price)
  • Percentage discount

This means:

  • Your Shopify product can have a placeholder price
  • Each tier defines its actual subscription price

Perfect for:

  • Monthly vs yearly pricing
  • Promotional plans
  • Legacy or discounted tiers

Step 6: Configure Drip Schedule, Time & Timezone

Control exactly when content is released.

Drip Frequency

  • Every month
  • Every X days

Delivery Time & Timezone (NEW)

Optionally set:

  • A specific delivery time
  • A timezone for content release

This ensures content drops consistently, regardless of where customers are located.

Step 7: Month-Based vs Subscriber-Based Delivery

This setting determines how customers receive content.

Option A: Subscriber-Based Timeline (Default)

  • Each customer progresses from their signup date
  • Best for structured courses or programs

Option B: Send Content by Month of Subscription

When enabled:

  • All active subscribers receive the same month’s content
  • New subscribers immediately receive the current month’s content
  • Previous months are not automatically unlocked

Ideal for:

  • Monthly memberships
  • Recipe clubs
  • Publications
  • “Everyone gets March’s content” models

Step 8: Configure File Delivery & Access Rules

Control what happens when a customer cancels or pauses:

  • Customers retain access after cancel/pause

  • Show download links on:

    • Thank You page
    • Order Status page
    • Customer account page

  • Optional download limits (IP or per file)

This gives you full control over post-cancellation behavior.

Step 9: Build Your Drip Schedule

Before you can assign drip files:

👉 Click “Save subscription”

After saving, you’ll see a list of tiers with a Configure drip content button.

For each tier:

  1. Click Configure drip content
  2. Add drip periods (e.g. Month 1, Month 2, Month 3)
  3. Upload or assign files to each drip
  4. Add or remove drip periods as needed

Each tier can have:

  • Its own drip schedule
  • Its own files
  • Its own progression

Step 10: Activate Subscription

Once all tiers have drip files assigned:

  • Click Set active
  • The subscription is ready for customers

⚠️ Note: Drip schedule schedule settings are locked once the subscription is active.

Final Notes

  • Content Vault handles billing, access control, and delivery together
  • Drip timing and billing are intentionally separate for flexibility
  • Tiers allow multiple pricing plans without product duplication

If you need help choosing the best setup for your use case, feel free to reach out via live chat — we’re happy to help you get this dialed in.