> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://learn.withessential.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://learn.withessential.com/revenue/subscriptions/auto-charge-vs-manual-billing-on-a-subscription.md).

# Auto-charge vs manual billing on a subscription

Each subscription bills one of two ways, chosen in the Payment section of its settings. Automatic charges a saved payment method on file every billing period - "Automatically charge a payment method on file" - so the customer doesn't have to do anything.

When you pick it, you select which of the customer's cards or bank accounts to charge, and you can add a new payment method right there. If the type is automatic but no payment method is selected, the subscription can't be saved.

Manual instead emails the invoice and a PDF copy to the customer each period for them to pay themselves, and lets you write a custom message that goes out with it. The automatic option is only offered when your business has a verified Stripe connection with a payment provider set up - auto-charging literally needs Stripe to move the money.

If your business doesn't have that (for example, in a region Stripe doesn't serve), the automatic choice isn't shown at all: the subscription is fixed to manual, and the panel simply notes that invoices will be emailed to the customer to pay manually.

So subscriptions work either way, but unattended auto-charge specifically depends on a verified Stripe connection.

> **Where to find it:** On the subscription page, open the settings panel below the invoice template and find the Payment section, where you choose between automatic charging and emailing the invoice to pay manually.

## Related guides

* [Do I need Stripe for recurring invoices?](/revenue/subscriptions/do-i-need-stripe-for-recurring-invoices.md)
* [A subscription's generated invoices and metrics](/revenue/subscriptions/a-subscriptions-generated-invoices-and-metrics.md)
* [See and browse your subscriptions (the Subscriptions page)](/revenue/subscriptions/see-and-browse-your-subscriptions-the-subscriptions-page.md)
* [What the subscription page shows](/revenue/subscriptions/what-the-subscription-page-shows.md)
* [Create a subscription for recurring invoices](/revenue/subscriptions/create-a-subscription-for-recurring-invoices.md)


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