When creating a paid offer in Heartbeat, you'll choose how members pay for access. This article explains all available payment options to help you select the right structure for your community.
Payment Frequency Options
Subscription Payments
Subscriptions charge members automatically on a recurring basis. You can choose:
- Weekly - Members are billed every 7 days
- Monthly - Members are billed once per month (most common)
- Quarterly - Members are billed every 3 months
- Yearly - Members are billed once per year
Subscriptions continue until the member cancels or their payment method fails.
One-Time Payments
One-time payments are single charges with no recurring billing. You can structure these two ways:
- One-Time Payment - Member pays the full amount upfront in a single transaction
- Installment Plan - The total amount is split into multiple payments over time (for example, $300 paid as three monthly installments of $100)
Access Duration Options
When setting up your offer, you'll also choose what happens with member access:
After Purchase
Select this option when you want members to keep access even after they stop paying. This works for:
- Lifetime access offers
- One-time purchases
- Digital products
- Courses members should access forever
Example: A member pays $297 for a course. They get lifetime access, even if they never pay again.
On Cancellation
Select this option when you want members to lose access once they stop paying. This works for:
- Active memberships
- Subscription communities
- Ongoing programs requiring continued payment
Example: A member pays $49/month for your community. If they cancel, they lose access at the end of their billing cycle.
Choosing the Right Payment Option
For ongoing communities: Use monthly or yearly subscriptions with "On Cancellation" access duration.
For courses or digital products: Use one-time payments with "After Purchase" access duration.
For premium programs: Consider quarterly or yearly subscriptions to reduce churn, or use installment plans to make high-ticket offers more accessible.
For flexible access: Use "After Purchase" to let members keep access regardless of payment status.