What's the difference between the subscription created, subscription activated and subscription started events?

Problem Statement

This article helps you understand what's the difference between the subscription created, subscription activated and subscription started events.

Scope

Difference between the Created on and Started on events?

What's the difference between 'activated_at' and 'started_at' dates?

Summary

In Chargebee, every event performed from the user end or backend will be displayed under the Events page. Refer to this link for more about the events. The primary events related to subscriptions are Created on, Started on, Active on & Cancelled on are displayed on the Subscription details page.

Solution

The subscription details page contains the subscription timeline. Here's what each event under the timeline means.

Subscription page

Subscription Created: This is the date when the subscription was created. For API users, if you're listening to our webhooks, you will receive a subscription_created event every time a subscription is created.

Subscription Started: When a subscription is created by specifying the start date, which can be set as a past or future date.

Future date - It would be created in the Future state if the subscription start date is set to a future date. The start date is when the subscription was set as Future. Say for example the subscription was created on December 1 with the future date as December 5, so the start date is December 5.

Past date - It would be in an Active state as the subscription was created on the past date**.** The start date is when the subscription was created. Say for example the subscription was created on December 1 with the past date as November 25, so the start date will is November 25.

If a subscription is created without specifying a start date, this date would be the same as the signup date. If you're listening to our webhooks, for subscriptions created by specifying a start date, you will receive a subscription_started event when the subscription starts. ** Activated On**: This is when the subscription has been moved from "In Trial" to "Active" state. If you're listening to our webhooks, you will receive a subscription_activated event when a subscription is activated.

Here's an example scenario for a subscription in different states and how the dates would vary.

Refer to this link for the complete list of events and when they will be triggered.