---
title: Set payment methods per-subscription
subtitle: Learn how to specify which payment methods are available for a subscription.
route: /billing/subscriptions/payment-methods-setting
---

# Set payment methods per-subscription

Learn how to specify which payment methods are available for a subscription.

The subscription [payment_settings](https://docs.stripe.com/api/subscriptions/object.md#subscription_object-payment_settings) parameter lets you set specific payment methods on individual subscriptions. This allows more flexibility than a single `default_payment_method` or less granular customer settings.

To enable payment methods, you first need to activate them in your [account settings](https://dashboard.stripe.com/settings/payment_methods) in the Stripe Dashboard.

In some situations, there might be restrictions that prevent certain payment methods from being used for a subscription. For example, a payment method might only operate in one currency, or have limitations on the amount that a customer can pay. Stripe doesn’t automatically select a payment method if limitations prevent it from being used. Learn more about [payment method support](https://docs.stripe.com/payments/payment-methods/payment-method-support.md#product-support).

## Manually select payment methods 

You can override the payment methods that a customer can use to pay a subscription by changing its [payment settings](https://docs.stripe.com/api/subscriptions/object.md#subscription_object-payment_settings).

```dotnet
StripeConfiguration.ApiKey = "<<secret key>>";

var options = new SubscriptionUpdateOptions
{
    PaymentSettings = new SubscriptionPaymentSettingsOptions
    {
        PaymentMethodTypes = new List<string> { "card", "customer_balance" },
    },
};
var service = new SubscriptionService();
Subscription subscription = service.Update("sub_49ty4767H20z6a", options);
```

```go
stripe.Key = "<<secret key>>"

params := &stripe.SubscriptionParams{
  PaymentSettings: &stripe.SubscriptionPaymentSettingsParams{
    PaymentMethodTypes: []*string{
      stripe.String(string(stripe.SubscriptionPaymentSettingsPaymentMethodTypeCard)),
      stripe.String(string(stripe.SubscriptionPaymentSettingsPaymentMethodTypeCustomerBalance)),
    },
  },
};
result, err := subscription.Update("sub_49ty4767H20z6a", params);
```

```java
Stripe.apiKey = "<<secret key>>";

Subscription resource = Subscription.retrieve("sub_49ty4767H20z6a");

SubscriptionUpdateParams params =
  SubscriptionUpdateParams.builder()
    .setPaymentSettings(
      SubscriptionUpdateParams.PaymentSettings.builder()
        .addPaymentMethodType(SubscriptionUpdateParams.PaymentSettings.PaymentMethodType.CARD)
        .addPaymentMethodType(
          SubscriptionUpdateParams.PaymentSettings.PaymentMethodType.CUSTOMER_BALANCE
        )
        .build()
    )
    .build();

Subscription subscription = resource.update(params);
```

```node
const stripe = require('stripe')('<<secret key>>');

const subscription = await stripe.subscriptions.update(
  'sub_49ty4767H20z6a',
  {
    payment_settings: {
      payment_method_types: ['card', 'customer_balance'],
    },
  }
);
```

```python
import stripe
stripe.api_key = "<<secret key>>"

subscription = stripe.Subscription.modify(
  "sub_49ty4767H20z6a",
  payment_settings={"payment_method_types": ["card", "customer_balance"]},
)
```

```php
$stripe = new \Stripe\StripeClient('<<secret key>>');

$subscription = $stripe->subscriptions->update(
  'sub_49ty4767H20z6a',
  ['payment_settings' => ['payment_method_types' => ['card', 'customer_balance']]]
);
```

```ruby
Stripe.api_key = '<<secret key>>'

subscription = Stripe::Subscription.update(
  'sub_49ty4767H20z6a',
  {payment_settings: {payment_method_types: ['card', 'customer_balance']}},
)
```

If you configured a default payment method on either the [Customer](https://docs.stripe.com/api/customers/object.md#customer_object-invoice_settings-default_payment_method) or the [Subscription](https://docs.stripe.com/api/subscriptions/object.md#subscription_object-default_payment_method), be sure to include it in the list of `payment_method_types`. Otherwise, that method won’t be used and payment might fail.

## Payment method priority 

By default, customers can pay a subscription’s generated *invoice* with any of the enabled payment methods in your [Invoice default payment method configuration](https://dashboard.stripe.com/settings/billing/invoice). This takes precedence over the older [default_source](https://docs.stripe.com/api/customers/object.md#customer_object-default_source) customer setting.

If set, a subscription’s `payment_settings.payment_method_types` takes priority over default invoice settings, but only for that specific subscription. Payment method types are passed onto the subscription’s [setup intent](https://docs.stripe.com/api/setup_intents.md) and invoices.

You can further specify a subscription’s `default_payment_method`, or the older `default_source`, to prioritize which payment method is attempted.

## Payment method errors 

Payment method errors can prevent a subscription from being created. This can happen when:

- You manually select a payment method but a restriction, such as supported currencies, prevents it from being used.
- A payment method isn’t activated for your account

Errors can also occur at time of payment, and Stripe can’t finalize the invoice. See invoicing [payment method errors](https://docs.stripe.com/invoicing/payment-methods.md#payment-method-errors) for details.

### Payment method options  

Some payment methods have additional options that you can set to customize how a customer pays. See the [payment method options](https://docs.stripe.com/api/subscriptions/object.md#subscription_object-payment_settings) documentation for details.