Rent the Runway is ending its Unlimited membership — here's a breakdown of the new plan taking its place

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• Rent the Runway is getting rid of its popular Unlimited Swaps membership option.
• The new memberships may better represent the average RTR user's needs right now, but super users may not get as much value out of their memberships.
• Members with current or paused RTR Unlimited Swaps memberships will be able to continue using them until early 2021, when the RTR team will help them transition to their new plans.

As of September 22, Rent the Runway retired its popular Unlimited Swaps membership option, while its basic and mid-tier options remain unchanged. In an Instagram post, the company explained its decision to get rid of Unlimited Swaps by noting that 70% of Unlimited Swaps members were already renting fewer than eight pieces per month, even prior to COVID-19. With the new model, the majority of customers could theoretically pay less without renting fewer items.

It’s a big day for all of us here at Rent the Runway. This morning, our CEO & Co-Founder Jenn Hyman shared an update directly with our members on where we’re taking the future of our subscription program. You can read Jenn’s full letter at the link in bio, or swipe on for the highlights. We’re so excited for this next step in the RTR journey, and our continued mission to offer smarter, more sustainable ways to get dressed ❣️

A post shared by Rent the Runway (@renttherunway) on Sep 17, 2020 at 7:31am PDTSep 17, 2020 at 7:31am PDT

While the memberships may represent the needs of the average renter better than super users, the change may also be in response to the existential threats posed to the business by mass social distancing and less discretionary spending — two immediate concerns for most retail companies, aside from well-positioned loungewear.

You can find the current RTR membership options — and their pros and cons — below. Thankfully, the new memberships preserve most of the perks that make RTR such a compelling and useful service, but we hope to see the Unlimited Swaps membership reinstated one day.

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For now, current and paused Unlimited Swaps members can continue using the membership until early 2021.

The current 2020 RTR membership options

Up to 4 items per month: $69 trial month ($89/month after)

• One shipment per month of up to four items
• Options come from the site's casual styles and workwear with a retail value of up to $350.

Up to 8 items per month: $99 for first two months ($135/month after)

• Two shipments per month
• Rent up to four items per shipment
• Access to the full RTR closet, including eveningwear and clothing with a retail value of up to $3,500

Up to 16 items per month: $149 for first two months ($199/month after)

• Four shipments per month
• Rent up to four items per shipment
• Access to the full RTR closet, including eveningwear and clothing with a retail value of up to $3,500

Members can also add extra spots to their plan as needed for $29/month.

Pros

In the void left by the Unlimited plan, RTR's other perks remain. RTR's new memberships still allow for more intentional shopping, more closet space, and a more sustainable way to elevate and diversify your wardrobe. You can read more about our firsthand experiences here, though we focus on the now-defunct Unlimited Swaps membership.

RTR users will still have their items dry cleaned and get exclusive discounts on the clothes they rent should they choose to purchase them. Orders should arrive in two days or less and come with a prepaid return shipping label. If the fit isn't quite right, each new membership comes with one free do-over to use within the first couple of months. And, according to the company, these new plans allow for faster turnaround time — reportedly the most frequently requested feature from members. You'll be able to select your next shipment before your returns are marked as physically received by RTR. Plus, clothing comes with basic rental coverage and you can still pause or cancel anytime.

These new memberships may also better demonstrate the current needs of the average RTR customer. With fewer places to go and people to see, RTR members may be happy to pay a little less for fewer shipments.

Cons

The RTR Unlimited Swaps super users will see the biggest downside. The Unlimited Swaps plan was $159 per month, and had no ceiling on the number of items a member could rent. The new RTR plan costs more ($199/month), and users may wind up with fewer items. While there's a free do-over within the first couple of months if something doesn't quite fit, the previous Unlimited Swaps plan made ordering pieces less risky. If they didn't work, you could send them back and replace them. With a finite number of do-overs, users may be less adventurous with their shopping.

The bottom line

Overall, these new RTR plans are not awful adjustments — and they may even be better fits for a widening portion of its users. But, the Unlimited Swaps RTR option was and still is unbeatable, and we hope to see it back once the retailer faces fewer existential challenges.