Suma uses two related concepts (Subscription Plans and Subscription Profiles) to extend the functionality of Wordpress User Accounts.
Subscription Plans are used to define the length of time a user is to be given access to restricted content. Subscription Plan lengths can be indefinite (i.e. until cancelled) or limited (e.g. ends after 1 week), and can optionally specify billing terms (e.g. the user is billed $9.95 every three months).
When a user registers via Suma (or re-registers if they have an existing user account) they are signing up to a Subscription Plan; if the registration is successful a new Subscription Profile is created and associated with their Wordpress User Account. Subscription Plans can thus be thought of as templates for Subscription Profiles.
Subscription Profiles are linked to a user’s Wordpress User Account and specify the period of time that a particular user is allowed access to restricted content. Outside this time period Suma will not grant the user access to content (at least not based on that Subscription Profile).
Users can cancel a Subscription Profile before its planned end date only if it has billing associated with it. Canceling the Profile will cancel the recurring billing arrangement associated with that Profile. The rules for how Profiles can be cancelled, upgraded and downgraded are covered here.
See Also:
- Managing Subscription Plans
- Subscription Groups for creating more selective Content Access models
- Hosted Recurring Payments and Onsite Recurring Payments
- Suma’s Customization API getPlanDescriptionHREF() for adding a hyperlink to a Plan’s user-defined description