How a coin economy works
The viewer buys a pack of coins through the app store or a payment gateway. Each locked episode has a price in coins. Spending coins unlocks the episode permanently on that account.
Most apps also give coins away: for daily check-ins, for watching a rewarded ad or for inviting a friend. Free coins keep non-paying viewers watching and bring them closer to a first purchase.
Why apps use coins instead of prices
- Small amounts: an episode can cost a few cents without a card payment for each one
- One purchase, many unlocks: the viewer pays once and keeps watching without interruption
- Bonus coins on larger packs raise the average purchase
- Earned coins give free viewers a way to progress
When a coin model fits
Coins suit serialized short-form content, where each episode ends on a hook and the next one is a small decision. Microdramas and vertical series are the main users of the model.
They suit long-form catalogs less well. A viewer choosing one film a week is better served by a rental price or a subscription. Many short-form apps offer both coins and a subscription pass that unlocks everything.
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