Subsail vs SimpleCirc
Both help magazines sell and manage subscriptions. They are built for different publishing jobs.
This page is for prospective customers, SimpleCirc switchers, and anyone comparing magazine subscription software honestly.
The short version
Choose Subsail if
- You run an independent print magazine (often with digital too)
- You want renewals on your issue schedule, not a fixed anniversary
- You also want calendar memberships in the same account
- You need clear fulfilment exports without a circ department
- You want lower entry pricing with every feature unlocked
- You prefer subscriber data hosted in the EU
Choose SimpleCirc if
- You need BPA or AAM audit reporting
- You run qualified or controlled circulation
- You want printed renewal letters handled for you
- You rely on USPS address validation day to day
- You sell merchandise and back issues from the same circ shop
Highest-leverage comparison
The rows that usually decide the purchase. Choose the platform that fits your needs best.
| Feature | Subsail | SimpleCirc |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Indie magazines selling direct to customers | Magazines, newspapers, trade and journals needing classic circ |
| Renewal model | Issue-based (charge when you publish) or calendar-based | Term / expiration date plus auto-renew on expiry |
| Pricing shape | From $19/mo + sales fee; all features on every plan | From $99/mo; Pro unlocks more automation at $199/mo |
| BPA / AAM audit support | No | Yes |
| Printed renewal letters | No | Yes on Pro |
| Automated renewal emails | Yes | Yes on Pro |
| Issue-level fulfilment (“who is owed #47?”) | Strong focus: unfulfilled copies, mark sent, shipping CSVs | Mailing lists / printer files for classic circ |
| Back issues & merchandise shop | No, use alongside Shopify or similar | Shop, upsells at checkout |
| Payment gateways | Stripe (funds to your Stripe account) | Stripe, Authorize.net, PayPal, Braintree and others |
| Multi-title cross-sell | No, but manage multiple titles from the same account | Yes |
| Import from your existing shop | Shopify, WooCommerce, Big Cartel, PayPal, CSV | CSV / their import process; Shopify listed among integrations |
| Subscriber self-service | Subscriber portal | Subscriber portal |
| API / automation | API, MCP | API, webhooks, Zapier |
| Data hosting | Hosted in the EU | US-based |
SimpleCirc pricing and plan names change over time, please confirm on their site. Feature claims above are from each product’s public marketing.
Where Subsail is stronger
Issue-based renewals
Independent magazines rarely publish on a perfect calendar. Subsail lets you charge renewing subscribers together on a date you choose around an issue — and move that date if print slips. SimpleCirc follows classic expiration-date circulation. How issue-based renewals work.
Subscriptions and memberships together
Sell issue-tied subscriptions and calendar memberships (monthly, quarterly or yearly) from the same checkout and fulfilment tools. Useful when some readers want community-style recurring support and others want an issue pack. Magazine memberships.
Lower entry pricing
Plans start at $19/month plus a sales fee, or $49/month with a lower fee. The first 20 subscriptions or memberships are free. Every feature is available on every plan — you are not gated behind a Pro tier for renewal emails or integrations. Subsail pricing.
Fulfilment for small teams
See who is owed each issue, mark copies sent, and export CSVs for Newsstand, Heftwerk, Hemlock, ShipStation, Shippo and Pirate Ship. Built for publishers who ship without a dedicated circulation manager. Fulfilment tools.
Data hosted in the EU
Subsail is built and hosted in the EU. If your readers or your own business care where subscriber data lives, that is a clear difference from US-centric circulation tools.
Where SimpleCirc wins
Audit and qualified circulation
BPA Worldwide and Alliance for Audited Media support, plus qualify / re-qualify flows for controlled circulation. Subsail is explicitly not for that class of publishing.
US postal operations
USPS address validation, postage-type pricing (Periodical, First Class, international and custom), and Pro printed renewal letters with QR codes.
Commerce around the subscription
Built-in back issues and merchandise, upsell and cross-sell at checkout, and stronger multi-title selling. If average order value from hats, back issues and sister titles is central to your model, SimpleCirc is ahead.
Payment gateway flexibility
SimpleCirc supports several gateways. Subsail sells through Stripe. If you must stay on Authorize.net or another processor for renewals, that can decide the switch on its own.
Pricing at a glance
Subsail
- Free for your first 20 subscriptions or memberships
- Mini: $19/mo + 5% of sales
- Regular: $49/mo + 1% of sales
- All features on every plan
- Imported old subscriptions stored free
SimpleCirc
- Free until you are successfully managing subscribers
- Essentials from $99/mo
- Pro from $199/mo for automated emails, letters and more integrations
- Expired subscribers stored free; only pay for actives
Switching from SimpleCirc
If renewals-on-your-schedule, memberships, or indie pricing matter more than audit letters and USPS tooling, a move can make sense.
- Export your subscriber list from SimpleCirc.
- Import into Subsail via CSV. Old and current subscriptions sold before you joined are free of the sales fee.
- Create issue-based products or memberships, connect Stripe, and point your subscribe links to Subsail.
Email [email protected] or book a demo if you want help reading a SimpleCirc export before you commit.
FAQ
Is Subsail a SimpleCirc alternative?
For independent magazines selling direct, yes. For audited trade circulation, newspapers with lettershop workflows, or titles that need USPS validation and a merch shop in circ software, no — stay on SimpleCirc or a similar classic circ platform.
Will I lose gift subscriptions or a subscriber portal?
No. Subsail supports gift subscriptions and passwordless subscriber accounts for address updates and order status. The day-to-day shape differs, but those jobs are covered.
What about digital editions and paywalls?
SimpleCirc integrates with several digital edition and paywall vendors on Pro. Subsail sells digital products and syncs subscriber access with Ghost; deeper Zinio / MAZ / Leaky Paywall-style stacks are SimpleCirc’s strength today.
How do renewals differ?
SimpleCirc: expiration dates and auto-renew when a term ends. Subsail: charge renewing readers together around your issue, or use calendar memberships when you want SaaS-style intervals. Issue-based renewals.
Try Subsail if the indie fit matches
Full product for your first 20 subscriptions or memberships. No credit card required.
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