Checkout Membership Text Customization
Customize membership and recurring payment text at Shopify checkout using theme translations
Customize the membership and recurring-payment text shown at Shopify checkout by editing your theme translation file.
When Shopify detects a product with a recurring selling plan at checkout, it adds default text describing the membership. You can replace these strings with branded copy by overriding the keys in locales/en.default.json.
Where the Text Comes From
All checkout membership labels live under the shopify.checkout key in your theme's locale file:
{
"shopify": {
"checkout": {
// membership-related keys go here
}
}
}Every change in this guide goes inside the "checkout": {} object.
What Customers See
By default, Shopify shows a Recurring Subtotal line below the order Total (desktop) or above the Complete Purchase button (mobile). The exact format depends on whether the membership has a free trial or trial fee.
No trial
Shows: Recurring Subtotal ⓘ — ${total_price} every {interval}
With trial / trial fee
Shows: Recurring Subtotal ⓘ — First payment ${initial_payment}, then ${recurring_total_price} every {interval}
Case 1: No Free Trial
Use this layout when the membership plan charges full price from the first cycle.
"checkout": {
"order_summary": {
"recurring_subtotal_label": "Membership+",
"recurring_total_tooltip": "Enjoy Membership perks"
},
"subscriptions": {
"recurring_totals": "Membership Perks"
}
}| Key | Replaces | Suggested use |
|---|---|---|
order_summary.recurring_subtotal_label | Recurring Subtotal | Name of the membership |
order_summary.recurring_total_tooltip | Tooltip on the ⓘ icon | Short explanation that this is a membership purchase |
subscriptions.recurring_totals | ${total_price} every {interval} | The most attractive perk of the membership |
Case 2: Free Trial or Trial Fee
Use this layout when the plan starts with a free trial or a one-time trial fee before recurring charges begin.
"checkout": {
"order_summary": {
"recurring_subtotal_label": "Membership+",
"recurring_total_tooltip": "Enjoy Membership perks"
},
"subscriptions": {
"recurring_totals_with_policies": {
"first_cycles": {
"one": "Try for Free"
},
"following_cycles": ", Membership Perks"
}
}
}| Key | Replaces | Suggested use |
|---|---|---|
order_summary.recurring_subtotal_label | Recurring Subtotal | Name of the membership |
order_summary.recurring_total_tooltip | Tooltip on the ⓘ icon | Short explanation that this is a membership purchase |
subscriptions.recurring_totals_with_policies.first_cycles.one | First payment ${initial_payment} | Usually Try for Free or Free Trial |
subscriptions.recurring_totals_with_policies.following_cycles | , then ${recurring_total_price} every {interval} | The most attractive membership perk |
Also appears next to the product
The text inside subscriptions is reused next to the membership product in the order summary. Keep it short and customer-facing.
Combined: Trial and Non-Trial Coexist
If you sometimes run trials and sometimes don't, ship both blocks together. Shopify will pick the right one based on the active selling plan.
"checkout": {
"order_summary": {
"recurring_subtotal_label": "Membership+",
"recurring_total_tooltip": "Enjoy Membership perks"
},
"subscriptions": {
"recurring_totals": "Membership perks",
"recurring_totals_with_policies": {
"first_cycles": {
"one": "Try for Free"
},
"following_cycles": ", Membership Perks"
}
}
}Steps to Apply
Open your theme's locale file
In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store → Themes → ⋯ → Edit code and open locales/en.default.json (or the matching default locale for your store).
Locate the shopify.checkout block
Find or add the nested "shopify": { "checkout": { ... } } structure.
Add the keys for your case
Paste the JSON from Case 1, Case 2, or the combined block above. Replace the example strings with your own copy.
Keep the tooltip under ~60 characters so it doesn't wrap awkwardly on mobile.
Save and preview
Save the file, then place a test order with a membership product to verify the new text appears at checkout on both desktop and mobile.
Troubleshooting
Related
Shopify Metafields
Reference of metafields Subscribfy writes to your store
Cart Attributes
Control discount behavior with cart and line attributes
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