In-App Purchase
Also known as: IAP
Short definition
In-App Purchase (IAP) is the Apple and Google payment mechanism for selling digital goods, services, or subscriptions from inside a mobile app.
Detailed
On iOS, IAP is implemented via StoreKit and must be used for any digital content or service consumed in the app, with Apple taking a 30% (or 15% for small developers) commission. On Android, Google Play Billing plays the same role. IAPs fall into four categories: consumable, non-consumable, auto-renewable subscription, and non-renewing subscription.
Example
A premium photo editor offers a one-time 'Pro Features' unlock ($9.99 non-consumable IAP) plus monthly and yearly auto-renewable subscription tiers; both are defined in App Store Connect and Google Play Console and purchased through StoreKit / Play Billing APIs from the client.
Primary sources
How Forvibe handles this
Forvibe's Pricing Manager addresses this directly: subscription & iap pricing for 175+ countries.
See how it works →Related terms
- Auto-Renewable SubscriptionAn auto-renewable subscription is an In-App Purchase type that charges the user at a fixed interval (weekly, monthly, yearly, etc.) and renews automatically until the user cancels.
- App Store ConnectApp Store Connect is Apple's web and API console for submitting, managing, and distributing iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS apps on the Apple App Store.
- Google Play ConsoleGoogle Play Console is Google's web and API console for publishing and managing Android apps and games on the Google Play Store.
- Sandbox TestingSandbox Testing is Apple's dedicated environment that lets developers test In-App Purchases, auto-renewable subscriptions, and StoreKit flows without using real money.
- Promotional TextPromotional Text is a 170-character field on the iOS App Store product page that appears above the main description and can be updated without submitting a new binary for review.