How in-app purchases work
The app shows a product, the viewer confirms with the payment method already saved in their store account, and the store sends the app a receipt. The service verifies the receipt on its server and grants access.
Because there is no card form, in-app purchases convert well on phones and televisions. The cost is the store's commission and less direct control over billing and refunds.
Types of in-app purchase
- Auto-renewable subscription: a plan billed by the store each period
- Consumable: something used up, such as a pack of coins
- Non-consumable: a permanent unlock, such as a purchased film
- Non-renewing subscription: access for a fixed period, such as a season pass
In-app purchase vs web payment
A payment taken on your own website goes through your payment gateway and avoids store commission. Store rules on whether an app may link to web checkout differ by store and region and have changed several times, so check the current rules for each market.
Most services offer both: store billing for viewers who discover them in the app, and web checkout for everyone else. An account bought on the web works in the apps.
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