# Recurring subscriptions

A recurring subscription entitles a member to ongoing [subscription benefits](/digital-platform/subscriptions/benefits),
with billing occurring at regular intervals.

## Recurring subscription lifecycle

```mermaid
stateDiagram-v2
    [*] --> Active: Subscription purchased

    FinalBillingPeriod: Final billing period
    Active --> FinalBillingPeriod: Cancelled

    OnHold: On hold
    Active --> OnHold: Hold period started
    OnHold --> Active: Hold period ended

    BillingError: Billing error
    Active --> BillingError: Billing error occurred
    BillingError --> Active: Payment successful
    BillingError --> Frozen: Maximum billing attempts reached
    BillingError --> [*]: Cancelled
    Frozen --> Active: Reactivated
    Frozen --> [*]: Cancelled

    Active --> FinalBillingPeriod: Future subscription purchased
    FinalBillingPeriod --> [*]: Final billing period ended
```

## Purchase

An [eligible member](/digital-platform/subscriptions/purchase#member-eligibility) may purchase a recurring subscription via a [subscription purchase order](/digital-platform/orders/subscription-orders#subscription-purchase-order) with a [recurring subscription billing option](/digital-platform/subscriptions/purchase/billing-options#recurring-subscription-billing-options).

See [Purchasing a subscription](/digital-platform/subscriptions/purchase) for more information.

## Billing

Billing occurs at regular intervals, determined by the [recurring subscription billing option](/digital-platform/subscriptions/purchase/billing-options#recurring-subscription-billing-options).

Repeated [billing errors](/digital-platform/subscriptions/recurring/billing-errors) will cause the subscription to become frozen. A
member may [reactivate their frozen subscription](/digital-platform/subscriptions/recurring/reactivation) by resolving the billing error.

A member may [update their payment card](/digital-platform/subscriptions/recurring/payment-cards#update-recurring-payment-card) or
[switch to Vista recurring billing](/digital-platform/subscriptions/recurring/third-party-payment-providers#set-vista-as-subscription-payment-provider)
at any time for future billing cycles.

## Hold periods

A member may initiate a [hold period](/digital-platform/subscriptions/hold-periods) to temporarily pause billing and their [subscription benefits](/digital-platform/subscriptions/benefits).

## Changing to another subscription

A member with a recurring subscription may change to a new subscription by [purchasing a future subscription](/digital-platform/subscriptions/purchase/future-subscriptions) after their [minimum contracted term](/digital-platform/subscriptions/purchase/contracted-terms) has ended.

## Cancellation

A recurring subscription may be [cancelled](/digital-platform/subscriptions/recurring/cancellation) after its [minimum contracted term](/digital-platform/subscriptions/purchase/contracted-terms) has ended.