how to export subscription data from Recharge — complete guide | Updated July 2026 | Recurpay Editorial Team | 20–40 minutes | Beginner
What You'll Learn
This guide walks you through how to export subscription data from Recharge for Shopify store owners, DTC brands, and subscription-based sellers. You'll navigate to the Export Builder, select export types (Subscriptions, Customers, Payment Tokens, and Orders), configure columns and date ranges, then download CSV files. Most stores complete this in 20–40 minutes without developer help.
- Locate and use Recharge's Export Builder to generate complete subscription CSV files
- Understand which export types to run and why each one matters
- Combine subscription and customer records for migration-ready data
- Download and validate files before migration or analysis
Prerequisites: Active Recharge merchant account with admin-level access, a Shopify store on any plan, and a spreadsheet tool such as Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.
Why Exporting Recharge Data Matters
Whether conducting a data audit, switching subscription apps, or backing up subscriber records, exporting Recharge data is essential. For migrations, you need three clean CSV exports saved locally, a confirmed active subscriber count, and clarity on payment token storage before any downstream work begins. Skipping this step causes billing errors, missing records, and failed payment transfers.
The Export Builder workflow below covers the current method for all Shopify Checkout Integration stores. Note that processed charge and order exports only span the previous 12 months, so timing your export correctly is important for multi-year histories. For supporting data, see Recharge CSV/Excel Import & Export Automatically.
The Process at a Glance
| Step | Action | Time | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Access the Export Builder in Recharge | 2 min | Export Builder is open and ready |
| 2 | Run Subscriptions and Customers exports | 5–10 min | Core subscriber CSVs generated |
| 3 | Export Payment Tokens and Orders data | 5–10 min | Payment and billing records captured |
| 4 | Download and validate all CSV files | 10–20 min | Clean, verified data set ready to use |
Total estimated time: 20–40 minutes for most stores.
Step 1: Access the Export Builder
How to Do It
- Log in to your Recharge merchant portal.
- Click Tools & apps and select Exports, then click Create Exports.
- You'll land on the Export Builder interface.
Common Mistakes
The biggest mistake is using the legacy export page instead of the Export Builder. If you're on Shopify Checkout Integration, use the Export Builder. Ignore prompts to "access the old export page." For a more detailed walkthrough, see Step-by-step guide on how to migrate from Recharge ....
Step 2: Run Your Subscriptions and Customers Exports
How to Do It
- Under Select export type, choose your desired export. Recharge preselects useful columns, but you can add more. Click Create export.
- Run Subscriptions – All first to capture every subscription record.
- Then run Customers – All to capture full customer profiles.
- Download links are emailed or available on the Exports page. Click the download icon under Actions to save the CSV.
Why You Need Both
The Subscriptions export references customers by ID only. To get names, emails, and addresses, you need the Customers export. Cross-reference them by Customer ID. Without the Customers file, subscription records contain only ID references with no contact information.
What Each Export Contains
| Export Type | Key Fields | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| Subscriptions – All | Subscription ID, product, price, frequency, status | Core subscriber records |
| Customers – All | Customer ID, email, name, address, portal link | Full customer profiles |
| Customers – Active Subscriptions | Only active subscription customers | Filtered view for active-only migration |
Step 3: Export Payment Tokens and Order History
How to Do It
- Return to the Export Builder and click Create Exports.
- Download the Customers – Payment tokens export.
- Run Orders – Processed and set your date range. Export each year separately if your data spans multiple years.
- Also run Payment Methods – All.
Best Practices
- Some token data may be stored with your payment processor. Contact them directly for those records.
- Label files with the export type and date (e.g., subscriptions-all-july2026.csv).
- Exports are available for download on the Exports page for 2 hours. Download immediately or use the email link, which remains accessible.
Recommended Exports for Migration
| Export | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subscriptions – All | Yes | Core subscription contracts |
| Customers – All | Yes | Full profile data linked by ID |
| Customers – Payment Tokens | Yes | Required for billing continuity |
| Orders – Processed | Recommended | Export per year if multi-year history |
| Payment Methods – All | Recommended | Gateway and method details |
Step 4: Download, Organize, and Validate Your Files
How to Do It
- Open each CSV in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.
- Check that row count in Subscriptions – All matches your dashboard.
- Confirm Customers export has matching Customer IDs for Subscriptions records.
- Verify Payment Tokens file has an entry for each active subscriber.
- Note that all dates are in Eastern Time (ET) (UTC-5).
Best Practices
- Store files in a clearly named folder and back them up securely before sharing.
- Never share raw CSV files with payment tokens over unsecured channels without encryption.
What to Do After Exporting
Phase 1 — Immediate (Days 1–3)
Store exported CSVs securely and decide how you'll use them. If migrating, begin evaluating your destination platform. If auditing, cross-reference subscriber counts with Shopify order data.
Phase 2 — Short-Term (Days 4–14)
If migrating, share your CSV files with your destination platform's migration team. Recurpay specializes in seamless migration from Recharge to Shopify's native subscription app, handling the process so customers don't re-enter payment details. Get your Shopify store subscription-ready in minutes with Recurpay's simple platform, seamless integration, easy migration, partner opportunities, and robust analytics. Scale recurring revenue with no unnecessary complexity or hidden fees.
Phase 3 — Go-Live (Days 15+)
Cancel your Recharge account before subscriptions go live on the new provider to avoid double-billing. Run a post-migration audit by comparing your new platform's active subscriber count against your Subscriptions – All export row count. Confirm at least one billing cycle processes successfully before fully decommissioning Recharge.
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Get StartedResources You'll Need
| Resource | Role | Required / Recommended | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recharge Export Builder Documentation | Official guide to Export Builder | Required | Free |
| Recurpay | Shopify subscription app with free white-glove migration from Recharge | Recommended (if migrating) | $9/month | 5/5 rating |
| Google Sheets | Open and cross-reference CSV files | Recommended | Free |
| Microsoft Excel | Advanced CSV validation | Optional | Paid |
| Recurpay Migration Help Center | Guide to sharing Recharge access with Recurpay | Recommended (if migrating to Recurpay) | Free |
See also, see How to Migrate Subscriptions from Recharge .... For related guidance, see How Kona Natural Soap Company Migrated Their Shopify Based Subscriptions From Yotpo Subscriptions To Recurpay.
Troubleshooting
The Export Builder is not visible
Likely cause: Your account lacks admin-level permissions.
Fix: Ask your Recharge account owner to grant admin access. The Export Builder is accessed via Tools & apps → Exports.
My Subscriptions CSV is missing customer names and emails
Likely cause: The Subscriptions export references customers by ID only.
Fix: Export the Customers file and cross-reference by Customer ID using VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP in Google Sheets.
My Orders – Processed export is missing several years of history
Likely cause: Processed order exports only span the previous 12 months.
Fix: Export each year separately to avoid missing records.
Payment token data is missing for some subscribers
Likely cause: Some payment tokens are stored with your payment processor, not Recharge.
Fix: Contact your payment processor directly. Alternatively, Recurpay's migration team can help identify and resolve token gaps. For more troubleshooting advice, see Anyone successfully migrated from ReCharge to another ....
Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- Outcome: Export all subscription data from Recharge in 20–40 minutes using the Export Builder. Run Subscriptions – All, Customers – All, Customers – Payment Tokens, and Orders – Processed exports.
- Key insight: The Subscriptions export alone isn't enough. Without the Customers export, records contain only ID references. Always run both and cross-reference by Customer ID.
- Next action: Once validated and stored securely, use CSVs for data audits, bulk updates, or migration. Recurpay's free white-glove migration service accepts Recharge exports directly and handles subscriber transfer so customers don't re-enter payment details.
You now have a complete, verified process for exporting subscription data from Recharge. Whether for routine backup, analytics, or full platform migration, follow this guide with confidence.
FAQ
How do you export subscription data from Recharge?
Log in to your Recharge merchant portal and click Tools & apps → Exports → Create Exports. Choose your export type (start with Subscriptions – All), select columns, and click Create export. Download links are emailed and appear on the Exports page for two hours. Repeat for Customers – All, Customers – Payment Tokens, and Orders – Processed. The full process takes 20–40 minutes and requires no developer assistance.
What about merchants with multi-year order history?
Run Orders – Processed multiple times, once per year, since Recharge limits processed order exports to the previous 12 months per run. Combine resulting files in Google Sheets or Excel for complete history.
Which exports do I need for migration?
You need four exports: Subscriptions – All (subscription contracts), Customers – All (full profiles), Customers – Payment Tokens (billing continuity), and Orders – Processed (historical records). Payment Methods – All is also recommended. Without Payment Tokens, customers may be asked to re-enter card details, increasing churn.
How long does exporting take?
Most stores take 20–40 minutes. Generation time varies by data volume — smaller stores may see files ready in under a minute, while large stores may wait several minutes per export. Email links remain accessible indefinitely; in-portal links expire after two hours.
Can I export without admin access?
No. The Export Builder requires admin-level permissions. If your role is restricted, ask your Recharge account owner to upgrade you or generate exports on your behalf.
What should I do with my export files?
Store files in a secure, clearly labeled folder and back them up to encrypted cloud storage. If migrating, share with your destination platform's migration team. If auditing, open in Google Sheets and cross-reference IDs. Never transmit files with payment tokens over unsecured channels.
Does Recurpay accept Recharge CSV exports?
Recurpay specializes in seamless migration from Recharge and accepts your CSV exports directly. You can share CSVs or grant temporary Recharge portal access. Recurpay moves subscribers and billing data without disruption or card re-authorization. Available from $9/month with a 5/5 rating.
What happens if I stop paying after exporting?
Recharge continues processing existing subscription orders until you formally cancel. When ready to cease recurring billing, cancel your account. Always wait until your new platform is fully live and at least one billing cycle has processed successfully before cancelling Recharge.
Methodology: This guide was researched using Recharge's official support documentation, Recurpay's published migration resources, and third-party migration guides. All steps were verified against the current Recharge Export Builder interface as of July 2026. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal, financial, or technical consulting advice. Always verify steps against current documentation before executing a migration.