# Subscriptions (/docs/guides/subscriptions)

A **subscription** is what you sell (for example "Gym membership"); its **plans** are the prices customers choose from (Basic monthly, Premium yearly). Customers who join are **subscribers**.

## Set up [#set-up]

1. Create plans with `POST /subscription-plans` and a subscription with `POST /subscriptions` (`subscriptions:manage`), or set them up in the dashboard.
2. Activate it with `POST /subscriptions/{id}/activate`.
3. Share its subscribe link from the dashboard, or add an existing customer with `POST /subscriptions/{id}/subscribers`. Creddot emails them a link to pay.

## Renewals [#renewals]

Before each billing date Creddot emails the subscriber a reminder with a link to pay the next cycle. Customers manage their own plan and can cancel from a private link in their emails.

| Webhook | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| `subscription.activated` | The first payment succeeded; give access |
| `subscription.renewed` | A renewal was paid; extend access |
| `subscription.overdue` | The billing date passed without payment; the grace period started |
| `subscription.lapsed` | The grace period ended; remove access |
| `subscription.cancelled` | The customer or your team cancelled |

The grace period is set per subscription (3 days by default). Read a subscriber's current state with `GET /subscriptions/subscribers/{subscriberId}`.