Stripe Plugin Stale Data: Fix Active Subscription Issues

by Luna Greco 57 views

Introduction

Hey guys! Are you encountering issues with your Stripe plugin returning stale data when listing active subscriptions? You're not alone! In this article, we'll dive deep into a specific problem reported with the Better Auth Stripe plugin, where it displays outdated subscription statuses. We'll break down the issue, explore the steps to reproduce it, and discuss potential solutions. If you're using Better Auth and Stripe for subscription management, this is a must-read to ensure your data stays accurate and your users have a seamless experience.

The Problem: Stale Subscription Data with Stripe and Better Auth

So, what's the deal? The core issue revolves around the Better Auth Stripe plugin, specifically version 1.3.6, and the stripe package at version 18.4.0. Users have reported that when a subscription is canceled in Stripe, the listActiveSubscriptions function in Better Auth sometimes returns stale data, showing the subscription as still active even after it's been canceled in Stripe. This discrepancy can lead to significant problems, such as incorrect access control, billing errors, and a generally confusing user experience. It's crucial to have accurate, real-time data when dealing with subscriptions, so let's dig into the details of how this issue manifests and how to troubleshoot it.

Reproducing the Issue: Step-by-Step Guide

To better understand and address this Stripe data inconsistency, it's essential to be able to reproduce the issue consistently. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you replicate the problem in your own environment:

  1. Create a New Subscription: First off, use the upgradeSubscription function provided by Better Auth to create a new subscription for a user. This simulates a user signing up for a service or upgrading their plan.
  2. Cancel the Subscription Immediately: After creating the subscription, immediately cancel it directly within your Stripe dashboard. This mimics a scenario where a user cancels their subscription shortly after signing up.
  3. Request Active Subscriptions: Now, use the listActiveSubscriptions function from Better Auth to fetch all active subscriptions. This is where the issue often surfaces.
  4. Observe Stale Data: Check the response from listActiveSubscriptions. You might see the subscription you just canceled still listed with a status: active.
  5. Verify with Stripe API: To confirm the discrepancy, use the same Stripe client instance that's being passed to Better Auth to directly query Stripe for active subscriptions. You should receive an empty response, indicating that there are no active subscriptions matching the criteria.
  6. Check Canceled Subscriptions in Stripe: Using the same Stripe client, query for canceled subscriptions. You should find the subscription you canceled, but this time with the status: canceled.

By following these steps, you can consistently reproduce the issue where Better Auth returns stale data, even though Stripe's API reflects the correct status. This Stripe subscription status mismatch highlights a critical synchronization problem that needs addressing.

Current vs. Expected Behavior: A Tale of Two Subscriptions

The contrast between the current and expected behavior is stark. Ideally, the data returned from Better Auth should always be in sync with what Stripe reports. When a subscription is canceled in Stripe, listActiveSubscriptions should immediately reflect that change. However, the current behavior shows a clear disconnect.

Let's break it down further with a code example and console outputs:

const fromStripe = await stripeClient.subscriptions.list({
  status: "canceled",
});
console.log("FROM STRIPE", fromStripe.data);

const fromApi = await auth.api.listActiveSubscriptions({
  query: {
    referenceId: ctx.session.session?.activeOrganizationId,
  },
  headers: ctx.headers,
});

console.log("FROM API", fromApi);

Expected Behavior: When you cancel a subscription in Stripe and then query both the Stripe API and Better Auth, you should see the same status: canceled. The listActiveSubscriptions function should not return canceled subscriptions.

Current Behavior: The code snippet demonstrates the problem. The output from the Stripe API correctly shows the subscription as canceled:

FROM STRIPE [
  {
    id: 'sub_1RvfEpBNmaMMVvib8vfY3VWS',
    object: 'subscription',
    // ... other subscription details ...
    status: 'canceled',
    // ... other subscription details ...
  }
]

However, the output from Better Auth's listActiveSubscriptions still shows the subscription as active:

FROM BETTER AUTH [
  {
    plan: 'SOME PLAN NAME',
    referenceId: 'cme9o3v790000w7j4peds4m1t',
    stripeCustomerId: 'CUSTOMERIDREDACTED',
    stripeSubscriptionId: 'sub_1RvfEpBNmaMMVvib8vfY3VWS',
    status: 'active',
    // ... other subscription details ...
  }
]

Notice how both outputs refer to the same subscription ID (sub_1RvfEpBNmaMMVvib8vfY3VWS), but they have different statuses. This status inconsistency is not a one-off occurrence; it persists across application restarts and even reboots, suggesting that it's not simply a caching issue. This persistent discrepancy highlights a more fundamental problem in how Better Auth synchronizes with Stripe's data.

Identifying the Root Cause: Why the Discrepancy?

So, what's causing this Better Auth Stripe synchronization issue? While the exact root cause may require deeper investigation into the Better Auth plugin's internals, here are some potential areas to consider:

  1. Caching Mechanisms: Although the issue persists across restarts, it's worth examining any caching layers within Better Auth. There might be aggressive caching strategies that aren't properly invalidated when a subscription status changes in Stripe.
  2. Webhook Handling: Better Auth likely relies on Stripe webhooks to receive real-time updates about subscription events. If the webhook handling is not robust or if there are delays in processing webhooks, it could lead to stale data.
  3. Polling Intervals: If Better Auth uses a polling mechanism to sync with Stripe (instead of solely relying on webhooks), the polling interval might be too long, causing delays in reflecting status changes.
  4. Data Transformation: There might be a problem in how Better Auth transforms or maps Stripe's subscription data into its own internal representation. If the transformation logic is flawed, it could incorrectly interpret the subscription status.
  5. Database Transaction Issues: If Better Auth uses database transactions to update subscription statuses, there might be issues with transaction isolation or commit failures, leading to data inconsistencies.

To truly pinpoint the cause, it would be beneficial to:

  • Examine the Better Auth codebase: Specifically, look at the webhook handling, caching mechanisms, and data synchronization logic.
  • Monitor webhook events: Check if Stripe webhooks are being delivered successfully and if Better Auth is processing them without errors.
  • Add logging: Add detailed logging around the subscription status update process to track how the status changes over time.

Impact and Solutions: Keeping Your Data Accurate

This stale data issue can have significant implications for your application. Imagine users being denied access to services they've already paid for, or worse, being granted access after their subscription has been canceled. This can lead to frustration, churn, and even financial losses.

Here are some steps you can take to mitigate the issue while a permanent fix is being developed:

  1. Implement a manual refresh: Provide a mechanism for users (or administrators) to manually refresh the subscription status. This could be a button in your application that triggers a direct sync with Stripe.
  2. Increase polling frequency (with caution): If Better Auth uses polling, temporarily increase the polling frequency to reduce the delay in detecting changes. However, be mindful of Stripe's API rate limits.
  3. Double-check subscription status: Before making critical decisions based on subscription status (like granting access), always verify the status directly with Stripe's API.
  4. Contribute to Better Auth: If you have the expertise, consider contributing to the Better Auth project by investigating the issue and submitting a fix.

Better Auth Version and System Information

To provide more context, the issue was reported using Better Auth version 1.3.6. Here's the system information from the original report:

  • Operating System: Fedora Linux 42
  • Node.js Version: 22.18.0
  • Browser: Chrome 139.0.7258.66

This information can be helpful for developers trying to reproduce the issue and identify potential environment-specific factors.

Affected Areas: Backend Woes

This issue primarily affects the backend of your application, as it involves the server-side logic that interacts with Stripe and manages subscription data. The frontend might display incorrect information if the backend is providing stale data.

Auth Configuration: Stripe Plugin Deep Dive

Here's the relevant Stripe plugin configuration from the original report:

stripePlugin({
  schema: {
    subscription: {
      modelName: "StripeSubscription",
    },
  },
  stripeClient,
  stripeWebhookSecret: env.STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SIGNING_SECRET,
  createCustomerOnSignUp: false,
  subscription: {
    enabled: true,
    plans: async function () {
      const products = await getAllProducts();
      return products.map(item => {
        const price = item.default_price as { id: string };
        return {
          name: item.name,
          priceId: price.id,
        } as StripePlan;
      });
    },
    authorizeReference: async ({ user, referenceId }, ctx) => {
      try {
        await db.member.findFirstOrThrow({
          where: {
            userId: user.id,
            organizationId: referenceId
          }
        });
        return true;
      } catch (err) {
        if (err instanceof PrismaClientKnownRequestError && err.code === "P2025") {
          return false;
        }
        throw err;
      }
    },
  },
}),

// stripe client instantiated like

export const stripeClient = new Stripe(env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY, {
  apiVersion: "2025-07-30.basil",
});

This configuration provides valuable insights into how the Stripe plugin is set up, including:

  • Schema Definition: Defines the model name for Stripe subscriptions (StripeSubscription).
  • Stripe Client: Uses a Stripe client instance initialized with the Stripe secret key.
  • Webhook Secret: Configures the Stripe webhook signing secret for security.
  • Subscription Plans: Fetches available subscription plans dynamically from a getAllProducts function.
  • Authorization: Implements an authorizeReference function to check user access based on organization membership.

Analyzing this configuration can help identify potential misconfigurations or areas where the plugin might be failing to synchronize with Stripe correctly.

Conclusion: Resolving Stale Data and Ensuring Data Integrity

In conclusion, the issue of stale data in the Better Auth Stripe plugin is a critical one that can significantly impact your application's functionality and user experience. By understanding the steps to reproduce the issue, analyzing the current vs. expected behavior, and considering potential root causes, you can take proactive steps to mitigate the problem and ensure data integrity.

While a permanent fix is being developed, implementing manual refresh mechanisms, double-checking subscription statuses with the Stripe API, and contributing to the Better Auth project can help you navigate this challenge. Remember, accurate subscription data is the backbone of a reliable subscription management system, and addressing this issue will ultimately lead to a more robust and user-friendly application.