Android In-App Purchase (IAP) Tutorial

Anupam Singh
2 min readFeb 5, 2024

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In this tutorial, I am going to explain some of the most important in-app purchase FAQs before starting the IAP implementation on the Android app.

What is an in-app purchase (IAP)?

An in-app purchase is a transaction made within a mobile application, allowing users to buy digital goods or services directly from the app.

How do in-app purchases work on Android?

Developers integrate the Google Play Billing Library into their apps, enabling users to make purchases using their Google account.

What types of in-app purchases are common?

Common types include consumables (e.g., virtual currency), non-consumables (e.g., premium features), subscriptions, and unlockable content.

Android in-app purchase

How can users make in-app purchases on Android?

Users can make in-app purchases by selecting the desired item within the app and completing the purchase using their Google account.

Are in-app purchases secure?

Yes, Google Play’s in-app purchase system is designed to be secure. Transactions are authenticated and processed securely.

Can in-app purchases be refunded?

Yes, users can request refunds for in-app purchases within a certain timeframe. Developers can set refund policies for their apps.

How are in-app purchases displayed on the user’s account?

In-app purchases appear on the user’s Google Play account statement with details of the transaction.

Can developers offer promotions or discounts on in-app purchases?

Yes, developers can implement promotional pricing, discounts, or limited-time offers for in-app purchases.

What is the revenue distribution for in-app purchases on Google Play?

Google generally takes a 30% cut of the revenue from in-app purchases, with developers receiving the remaining 70%.

Can in-app purchases be transferred to another device?

In most cases, yes. As long as the user is logged into the same Google account on both devices, their in-app purchases should carry over.

Are in-app purchases available for free apps?

Yes, in-app purchases can be implemented in both free and paid apps.

Can users disable in-app purchases on their device?

Yes, users can set up password protection or use authentication to prevent unauthorized in-app purchases.

How can developers prevent fraudulent in-app purchases?

Developers can implement measures such as server-side verification and device-based checks to minimize fraudulent transactions.

Is it possible to test in-app purchases without making actual payments?

Yes, Google Play provides testing environments that allow developers to simulate in-app purchases during the development and testing phases.

Can in-app purchases be made without an internet connection?

No, an internet connection is required to verify and process in-app purchases through the Google Play Billing Library.

Still have doubts? Don’t worry, I am giving you an article link where I have explained everything in detail. Check it out. Android in-app purchase implementation from scratch.

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Anupam Singh

10+ years of experience in Android development. Full-time freelancer. Developing Android, iOS, Flutter, and React native apps. Guest post service is available.