---
url: /cashfree-acellemail/features/subscriptions.md
description: >-
  How the Cashfree Subscription gateway bills recurring AcelleMail plans through
  UPI AutoPay, eNACH and card mandates, using a mapping-based setup because
  Cashfree has no list-all-plans API.
---

# Subscriptions

The **Cashfree Subscription** gateway manages recurring billing for AcelleMail plans:

* **Mandate authorization:** Customers authorize standing debits via **UPI AutoPay**, **eNACH**, or **card mandates**.
* **Automated renewals:** Cashfree executes debits each billing cycle and notifies AcelleMail via webhook.
  For a single invoice, use the [Cashfree](/cashfree-acellemail/features/direct-payment) direct-payment gateway instead.

::: info Why you map plans
Cashfree has **no "list all plans" API**, so the plugin cannot discover your plans. You create each plan in Cashfree, then **map** it to the matching AcelleMail plan. One-time setup per plan.
:::

## Setup overview

Three linked steps — full walkthrough in [Set up subscriptions](/cashfree-acellemail/guides/set-up-subscriptions).

| Step | Where | Action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Create the plan | **Cashfree Dashboard → Subscriptions → Plans** | Create each plan, copy its `plan_id` |
| 2. Paste plan IDs | **Admin → Payment Gateways → Cashfree Subscription → Edit** | Paste `plan_id`s **one per line** in **Cashfree Plan IDs** |
| 3. Map local plans | **Admin → Remote Plan Mappings** | Map each AcelleMail plan to its Cashfree `plan_id` — same currency and amount — → **Map** |

![Mapping AcelleMail plans to Cashfree plan IDs](/cashfree-acellemail/img/cashfree-subscriptions-mapping.png)
*Admin → Remote Plan Mappings*

## What the customer sees

The subscription authorization workflow:

1. **Mandate prompt:** Customer is redirected to Cashfree's hosted page showing **"Authorize ₹:amount recurring mandate"**.
2. **Authorization:** Customer approves the mandate through their chosen payment method.
3. **Cycle renewals:** Cashfree auto-debits renewals and dispatches webhooks to advance the AcelleMail subscription.

::: warning Mapped INR plans required
The Cashfree Subscription gateway displays only when:

* The plan is mapped in **Admin → Remote Plan Mappings**.
* The plan currency is configured as **INR**.

Unmapped or non-INR plans will not show the subscription gateway option at checkout.
:::

## When recurring debits run

Cashfree executes recurring debits adhering to NPCI timing rules:

* **Off-peak processing:** Debits run outside peak windows (**10:00 AM – 1:00 PM** and **5:00 PM – 9:30 PM IST**).
* **Settlement timing:** Renewals settle adjacent to these windows rather than the exact moment of cycle rollover.

## Related pages

* [Set up subscriptions](/cashfree-acellemail/guides/set-up-subscriptions) — the full walkthrough
* [Direct Payment](/cashfree-acellemail/features/direct-payment) — one-time invoice payments
* [Security](/cashfree-acellemail/features/security) — webhook and outcome verification
* [Configure webhooks](/cashfree-acellemail/guides/configure-webhooks) — add subscription events
* [Errors](/cashfree-acellemail/errors) · [Troubleshooting](/cashfree-acellemail/troubleshooting)