The FTC released a new rule making it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions and making it clearer to consumers when they’re signing up for recurring subscriptions. This rule goes into effect July 14, 2025 for all US-based merchants.

If you’re using WooCommerce on your Newspack site, you’ll now have an option to enable one of two confirmation options in the checkout to make it clear to your readers that they’re purchasing subscription products:

  • The Subscription Confirmation checkbox will display a simple message by default confirming that the customer is purchasing a subscription product with recurring payments.
  • The Terms & Conditions for Subscriptions checkbox will display a simple message and link to your site’s Terms & Conditions page. When using this option you will need to make sure your Terms & Conditions page includes information about recurring payments for subscriptions that matches the FTC guidelines.

(Note that WooCommerce has its own built-in Terms & Conditions option that can be set up to display in all checkouts, not just ones where the reader is buying a subscription. This can also work if you include information on that Terms & Conditions page about recurring payments for subscriptions).

When either of these options is enabled, readers will be required to check the checkbox before they can complete their purchase of a subscription product.

Enabling Subscription Confirmation

To enable either Subscription Confirmation or Terms & Conditions for Subscriptions, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to WP Admin > Audience > Configuration > Checkout & Payment.
  2. Scroll to the Subscription header:
  1. Toggle on either “Enable subscription confirmation checkbox” or “Enable Terms & Conditions confirmation checkbox”. Note you can only have one option on at a time.
  2. If you turn on “Enable subscription confirmation checkbox”, it will let you edit the text that shows next to the checkbox. By default it reads, “I understand this is a recurring subscription and that I can cancel anytime through the My Account Page.”
  1. If you turn on “Enable Terms & Conditions confirmation checkbox”, it will let you edit the text that shows next to the checkbox, and the link to the Terms & Conditions page. You can wrap specific words in the text in {{ and }} to add the Terms & Conditions link, or omit them to link the whole label. By default, it reads, “I have read and accept the {{Terms & Conditions}}.”
  1. Once you’ve set up your checkbox, click Save Settings.
  2. Now when a reader purchases a subscription product (any product with recurring payments, including donations), they will see a checkbox above the final step in the checkout process. They will need to check it before they can complete the transaction.
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