Create a subscription via API | Chargebee migration

[SylvainC64]

Dear community,

I'm moving away from Chargebee to Hubspot and to migrate my clients' subscriptions, I'd prefer to automate the move by creating the necessary subscriptions in HS using the API or whatever automated way. It seems it's not possible by the API (why ??).

Would you have any idea, recommendation, documentation you could sahre with me to help me move to the next step ?

Thanks a lot, I'd appreciate any help on that topic.

Best regards

Sylvain

[danmoyle · Accepted solution]

Hey there @SylvainC64 and welcome to the Community! Thanks for the tag @Jaycee_Lewis. 

Sylvain, since Jaycee mentioned the subscription API endpoints being read only, I looked arounbd for other approaches you could consider. Here's what I found. 

You could so a orkaround and use HubSpot's Deals API. I don't know if this would totally solce it, but instead of directly creating subscriptions, you can create deals in HubSpot to represent subscriptions. This approach allows you to automate the process using HubSpot's Deals API.

If you have an Entertprise tier of HubSpot, you could use Custom Objects to represent subscriptions. This would allow you to store subscription-specific data and link it to contacts or companies.

I'd look around the marketplace, too. HubSpot offers integration capabilities that might allow you to maybe find (or create) a custom integration to import subscription data from Chargebee.

Have you looked into third-party integration tools like Zapier or Pipedream? One of those might be able to help create workflows to transfer data between Chargebee and HubSpot.

Personally, the one I'd probably lean toward is skipping the automation and perform a manual data import. You could export subscription data from Chargebee and import it into HubSpot using CSV files.

No matter the solution, I think it's a good idea to remember that while these methods can help automate parts of the process, you may need to combine approaches or involve some manual steps to fully migrate your subscription data. 

Given the complexity of this migration, it might be beneficial (for efficiency and long-term success) to consult with a HubSpot solutions partner or freelance integration specialist to help. 

Happy HubSpotting! 

[RSchweighart · Accepted solution]

Sounds great, @SylvainC64. Stripe has an integration in the app marketplace you can utilize for payment processing into your Stripe account.

Here's some more information on setting up a payment subscription.

If you get to a point of more clarity but still have questions, don't hesitate to follow-up here.

All the best,

Ryan

[danmoyle · Accepted solution]

Hey there @SylvainC64 and welcome to the Community! Thanks for the tag @Jaycee_Lewis. 

Sylvain, since Jaycee mentioned the subscription API endpoints being read only, I looked arounbd for other approaches you could consider. Here's what I found. 

You could so a orkaround and use HubSpot's Deals API. I don't know if this would totally solce it, but instead of directly creating subscriptions, you can create deals in HubSpot to represent subscriptions. This approach allows you to automate the process using HubSpot's Deals API.

If you have an Entertprise tier of HubSpot, you could use Custom Objects to represent subscriptions. This would allow you to store subscription-specific data and link it to contacts or companies.

I'd look around the marketplace, too. HubSpot offers integration capabilities that might allow you to maybe find (or create) a custom integration to import subscription data from Chargebee.

Have you looked into third-party integration tools like Zapier or Pipedream? One of those might be able to help create workflows to transfer data between Chargebee and HubSpot.

Personally, the one I'd probably lean toward is skipping the automation and perform a manual data import. You could export subscription data from Chargebee and import it into HubSpot using CSV files.

No matter the solution, I think it's a good idea to remember that while these methods can help automate parts of the process, you may need to combine approaches or involve some manual steps to fully migrate your subscription data. 

Given the complexity of this migration, it might be beneficial (for efficiency and long-term success) to consult with a HubSpot solutions partner or freelance integration specialist to help. 

Happy HubSpotting! 

[OAskarov]

Hello @danmoyle I read your feedback about Subscription API. I have a quesion about this as well. I hope you'll be able to help me.

I'm writing a configuration document to a client, who's using a different CRM and want to migrate to HS. The have a subscription process + payment already working using a local payment provide platform.

The subscription is purchsed on a website (WordPress + WooCommerce).

I think of creating an updating subscription to a record based on an API call from the local payment provide, and update the contact record on that API call.
When I looked at the API documentaion I noticed this prerequisites: To use these APIs, the account must be set up to collect payments through either HubSpot payments or Stripe payment processing.

https://developers.hubspot.com/docs/api-reference/crm-commerce-subscriptions-v3/guide

Unfortunatly, this is not an option.

Is there a workaround to solve this? Can I use the deal or custom object workaround you suggested to this user flow as well? For creating and updating new subscription.

Thank you very much for your help.

Oren

[danmoyle · Accepted solution]

Hi Oren ( @OAskarov ). Here's what I understand from looking back on this and doing a little research. You can't use HubSpot’s native Subscriptions API for this client’s flow without connecting HubSpot Payments or Stripe as a payment processor, so the likely path forward is to model subscriptions with deals or a custom object and keep the local gateway as the system of record.
​​

Because this account isn’t using HubSpot Payments or Stripe as a payment processor, the Subscriptions API you linked isn’t a viable foundation for your migration. It’s designed specifically for subscriptions that Commerce Hub is billing through HubSpot Payments or Stripe, and those objects behave differently than standard CRM objects.
​

In your case, I think the best approach is to keep your existing payment platform as the billing system of record and mirror subscriptions into HubSpot using either deals or a custom “Subscription” object. Each time your payment provider sends a webhook (new subscription, renewal, cancellation, failed payment), you’d call the regular CRM APIs to create or update the corresponding record in HubSpot and update the associated contact/company.
​

That pattern works well with WordPress + WooCommerce, and it avoids tying your implementation to Commerce Hub’s internal subscription object, which currently assumes HubSpot Payments or Stripe.

Hope that helps!

[OAskarov]

Hello @danmoyle , 

Thank you very much for the detailed answer.

I appreciate that, this really helps.

Oren

[danmoyle]

@OAskarov  Happy to help, Oren! That's why I love this Community! 

[BérangèreL]

Thank you so much @danmoyle for jumping in to help @OAskarov! 🌟

Your generosity and positive spirit are what make our community so special 🧡

We truly appreciate you Dan! 😊

Have a lovely day and I wish you all a wonderful 2026!
Bérangère

[danmoyle]

@BérangèreL you're making me blush. 😊 

[BérangèreL]

Haha, that made me smile! 😊 You truly deserve the recognition @danmoyle!

Thank you for everything you do!

[SylvainC64]

Hi @danmoyle , thanks a lot for your detailed answer and final advice. I'll evaluate the different options.

Best,

[danmoyle]

You're welcome @SylvainC64 I hope it helps inspire a full solution for you!

[Jaycee_Lewis]

Thank you @danmoyle 🙌

[Jaycee_Lewis]

Hey, @SylvainC64 👋 Welcome to our community. You are not missing an option to do this programmatically, the Subscriptions API endpoints are read-only. I'd like to invite some of our community champions to the conversation — hey @danmoyle @RSchweighart do you have any suggestions for @SylvainC64?

Thank you very much! — Jaycee

[RSchweighart]

Hi @SylvainC64, I echo @danmoyle's suggestions. I assume you're talking about payment subscriptions, not email subscriptions.

Are you planning to process the payments using HubSpot payments? Are you planning to migrate over everyone's payment information, if you have it? Unfortunately, you will have to manully set up each subscription in HubSpot as a payment link or recurring invoice.

Knowing a little more of how you want it structured in HubSpot could help tailor the recommendations. As Dan was suggesting, do you want subscriptions associated with just contacts, or more objects such as companies or deals?

Thanks for the tag, @Jaycee_Lewis.

All the Best,

Ryan Schweighart

Whole Hart Impact, LLC

whimpact.co

I help businesses with HubSpot and Zapier. 

[SylvainC64]

Hi @RSchweighart ,

I'm indeed planning to process payments with Hubspot, integrating with Stripe. I hope this is feasible 🙂

I don't fully know yet to which objects the subscriptions should be associated: companies for sure. Some will be created from deals and some others won't. I'm still working on that.

Thanks for your help.

Best regards,

[RSchweighart · Accepted solution]

Sounds great, @SylvainC64. Stripe has an integration in the app marketplace you can utilize for payment processing into your Stripe account.

Here's some more information on setting up a payment subscription.

If you get to a point of more clarity but still have questions, don't hesitate to follow-up here.

All the best,

Ryan

[SylvainC64]

Hi Jaycee,

Thanks a lot for your help.

Best regards.