There are a wide range of digital goods and services sold within apps, from additional in-app features to premium content to renewable subscriptions. Regardless of the monetization model you choose for your app, Apple and Google provide in-app purchase (IAP) platforms that enable easy low-friction purchase by users, and seamless billing and subscription management. And in the case of Apple as an app publisher you are mandated to use the Apple IAP platform for all digital goods sold within your iOS app.
By utilizing Apple's IAP and Google Play's Billing Library platforms, you can easily facilitate various in-app transactions, including one-time purchases, subscriptions, and promo code redemption. These platforms offer additional channels to monetize your app, and you can even promote and offer in-app purchases directly on Google Play and the App Store. Our In-App Purchases plugin simplifies the integration of these powerful functionalities into your native app, saving you from a lengthy development phase.
All you need to do is create In-App Purchase items within Apple’s App Store Connect and the Google Play Console, configure your website to host a JSON file that lists the products and subscriptions you are selling, and utilize Median JavaScript Bridge commands to access IAP functionality within your app — such as purchasing an item, starting a subscription, or listing previous purchases. The hosted JSON file is synchronized with your app in real time, so you can release new IAP items at any point in the future and an app store update is not required.
Ready to enhance your app's revenue potential? Take advantage of our powerful IAP plugin and provide your users with a seamless and secure transactional experience.
Enhance your app’s revenue potential:
Offer extra content and features — including digital goods, premium content, and subscriptions — directly within your app.
Offer a seamless, secure payment method:
Sell in-app products and subscriptions to millions of users globally in their local currency, with region-specific pricing and payment methods.
Gain additional marketing opportunities:
Promote in-app purchases on app stores and within your app to showcase their value.
Using the In-App Purchase plugin itself does not incur any additional transactional charges from Median. But, it’s important to note that both Apple and Google charge fees by way of a revenue share agreement for all purchases made within your app.
Review the Apple and Google in-app purchase policies and consider the total fees applicable for your app. Consider the total cost when setting pricing when planning your monetization strategy for in-app purchases on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Median provides comprehensive support and documentation for our In-App Purchase plugin. Our dedicated support team is available to assist you with any questions or issues you may encounter during the integration process.
We offer detailed documentation that guides you through the setup and configuration of the plugin, ensuring a smooth implementation. Additionally, we provide code samples, tutorials, and FAQs to help you make the most of our plugin's features. With our support and documentation, you'll have the necessary resources to integrate and optimize the plugin quickly and easily.
Median’s iOS and Android In-App Purchases flows are a bit different.
For iOS, the flow includes these steps:
For Android, the flow includes these steps:
Apple's App Store Guidelines require that their in-app purchase platform be used exclusively for the purchase of all digital goods and services offered within apps. Google also requires their in-app purchase platform be used but has less restrictions on offering alternative payment methods outside of your app.
To learn more check out the Apple and Google references below:
Apple and Google provide analytics tools to help you grow your business through in-app purchases. You can gather valuable insights into your in-app purchases, including data on transaction volumes, revenue generated, popular purchase items, and subscription renewals.
We also recommend adding other analytics tools, available as Median native plugins, to track your conversion funnel and user behavior. This data can be vital for making informed decisions about pricing strategies, optimizing your in-app purchase offerings, and identifying trends or patterns that can enhance your monetization efforts.