Doug here. Having spent some proper hands-on time with the new ThriveCart Pro+ features, it’s time for an honest look at what’s new, what’s good, and what’s…well, a bit questionable.

ThriveCart remains one of the truly standout checkout and sales page builders in no small part thanks to their one-time payment — a real stress reliever for many of us — and a genuinely straightforward and easy to use building process.

It’s well connected to other platforms and flexibile enough for you to build, sell and automate your digital sales flows without much hassle.

The new ‘Pro+’ tools are for some a welcome addition but for me, neat but without much substance. What does raise some eyebrows is the sneaky new annual pricing on their pro package. What was once a lifetime deal, is now, sadly, an annual payment (plus tax). There is, at the time of writing, no indication of how existing Pro accounts will be affected, and whether a monthly subscription will be introduced.

If you would like to get in on the lifetime account before their pricing model changes, you can do so here.

Let’s break it down properly.

What’s New with ThriveCart Pro Plus?

The big-ticket update revolves around their new Stripe Connect Plus integration. Here’s what’s caught my attention:

1. Enhanced Order Bump Capabilities

• You can now add up to six order bumps at checkout — up from just two previously.
• According to Stripe, businesses using multiple bumps have seen a potential 19% increase in average order value.
• Upsell positioning is far more flexible now, offering better strategic control over checkout flows.

In my experience: Adding extra order bumps worked seamlessly, although best results still require smart offer sequencing — not just throwing extras at the customer.

2. Tax-Inclusive Pricing

• ThriveCart now lets you show prices with or without tax depending on your market.
• Stripe reports a 22% uplift in global sales when tax-inclusive pricing is shown clearly.
• Cart abandonment rates also appear lower when customers aren’t blindsided by unexpected tax add-ons at checkout.

Personal note: This update alone makes international selling much smoother — especially for EU markets where VAT inclusion is a major expectation.

3. QR Code Checkout Integration

• Generate QR codes directly from checkout pages.
• Great for webinars, live events, or even pop-up shops — customers can scan and pay on the spot.

Reality check: While nice, the QR code functionality feels like catch-up with other platforms rather than true innovation.

4. Improved Subscription Management

• You can now sunset subscriptions more cleanly, handling end-of-life plans without messy manual processes.
• Upsells, downsells, and mid-cycle modifications are finally more flexible.

For subscription-based businesses: This cuts a lot of friction from customer management — and saves some support headaches too.

5. Advanced Analytics and Reporting

• Built-in UTM tracking for more accurate source attribution.
• More detailed performance dashboards across subscriptions, coupons, and funnels.
• Bulk invoice management makes tax season significantly less painful.

Hands-on verdict: The analytics suite is easier to use and less cluttered, but the real impact of UTM tracking remains to be proven in multi-touch journeys.

My Hands-On Experience of ThriveCart Pro+

The Good

• Multiple order bumps genuinely increase upsell potential — without breaking the checkout flow.
• Tax-inclusive pricing adds flexibility and improves transparency.
• Subscription management feels modern and intuitive now.
• Analytics dashboard is genuinely more informative — fewer third-party integrations needed.

The Not-So-Good

• The QR code feature feels underwhelming — it’s functional, but not a revolution.
• Some “new” tools duplicate what many users already patch together with existing platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, InvoiceBerry).
• UTM tracking improvements are welcome, but it’s still early days for meaningful reporting across longer customer journeys.

The Pricing Shift: The Real Elephant in the Room

The biggest change isn’t the features — it’s the business model:

• New Pro Plus upgrade cost: $295/year (+ VAT, around £280 total depending on conversion).
• Lifetime definition change: “Lifetime” now means “lifetime of the current software platform”, which leaves some ambiguity about long-term access.

This shift represents a philosophical change: ThriveCart, once famous for its one-time payment simplicity, is nudging into the subscription world it used to stand apart from.

Is Pro Plus Worth It?

Here’s my take:

Pros:

• More consolidated analytics and reporting
• Enhanced checkout flexibility
• Better subscription management
• Less reliance on third-party tools for basics

Cons:

• Significant additional annual cost
• Some features already available through existing tools
• New “lifetime” definition adds uncertainty for long-term users

Bottom line:
If you’re heavily invested in ThriveCart for subscriptions, events, or multi-product funnels, the Pro Plus upgrade could pay for itself through efficiency gains.
If you’re a casual user — especially someone with a lifetime basic license — you might be better sticking with the tools you’ve already integrated unless you really need those analytics or multi-bump setups.

Final Thoughts

The Stripe Connect Plus rollout shows that ThriveCart is still evolving — and largely in the right direction.
But the new pricing structure might make some long-time users (myself included) think twice before hitting that upgrade button.

As always, I recommend evaluating what you actually need rather than chasing every new feature.

Your Turn:
Have you upgraded to ThriveCart Pro Plus yet? What’s been your experience so far?

If you’re yet to try out the platform, I’d still highly recommend getting their ‘Lifetime’ account at $495 as it remains one of the best and most cost-effective sales and checkout builders.

Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear if it’s been a win or a miss for your business!