React Native In-App Purchases (iOS) — Part 2
In-app purchases configuration in iOS
In Part 1, we learned about in-app purchases, their types, and their benefits.
This blog categorizes the types of in-app purchases into subscriptions and in-app purchases.
For subscriptions, we will delve into creating products that are either auto-renewable or non-renewable. For in-app purchases, the steps are the same for consumable or non-consumable products. We will also explore setting a grace period in case of payment failures.
In subscriptions, there are two types: auto-renewable and non-renewable.
Auto-Renewable Subscriptions
Auto-renewable subscriptions renew automatically until canceled manually. Examples include Apple Music, Netflix, Dropbox, Spotify, and Microsoft 365.
1. Subscription Group
First, you need to initialize a group for a subscription.
2. Create Subscriptions
After forming a group, create a product. Navigate to the group, and click the “Create” button or the plus (+) icon if you already have a subscription.
After successfully generating a subscription, provide the necessary information, including:
Subscription Duration: Specify the duration before the subscription expires.
Family Sharing: Enabling this allows other family members to use the subscription without purchasing it again. Note that once enabled, it cannot be disabled.
3. Availability
Make your subscription available in any 175 countries or regions supported by the App Store.
4. Subscription Price
Configure prices based on the country. Select the country and then the price from the list. You cannot add the price manually.
After clicking “Next,” you can view and adjust costs for each country as needed.
5. Set Tax Category
Choose the tax category corresponding to your app’s category, which affects the subscription price.
6. App Store Localization
Provide localized product information, including the display name and description, for users in different regions or countries.
7. App Store Promotion & Review Information
For promotions, upload an image (below 1024 x 1024 pixels) that will appear on your app’s product page when a customer redeems an offer code.
Screenshots in the review section are for Apple reviews only and will not be displayed on the App Store.
After completing these steps, press “Save” to add the product.
Non-Renewable Subscriptions
Non-renewable subscriptions expire at the end of your period. You need to purchase them again to continue using them. Examples include Weather Underground, Pocket Casts, and Nova Launcher.
To add non-renewing subscriptions:
1. Manage Subscription
Click “Manage” to access the dashboard where you can add a non-renewing subscription.
2. Create a Non-Renewing Subscription
Select the plus (+) icon to add a reference name and product ID for the new subscription. After creating the product, you can view and modify its information.
After creating the product, you can view and modify its information.
3. Availability
Make your subscription available in any 175 countries or regions supported by the App Store.
4. Price Schedule
Set prices based on the subscription and the country’s rates.
5. Set Tax Category
Choose the appropriate tax category for your app that affects the subscription price.
6. App Store Localization
Provide a display name and description for the subscription, which will appear in the purchase pop-up box.
7. App Store Promotion & Review Information
Upload an image for the App Store promotion and provide screenshots for Apple reviews.
In-App Purchases
In-app purchases have two types: consumable and non-consumable.
Consumable means users can buy and use items that disappear after use and require repurchase. Non-consumable means that users buy it once and use it indefinitely.
Go to your App Store Connect account, select your application, and navigate the In-App Purchases section under MONETIZATION.
1. Create an In-App Purchase
Click the plus (+) icon to add a product, selecting either consumable or non-consumable. Enter the reference name and product ID.
2. Family Sharing and Availability
For non-consumable items, you can enable Family Sharing, allowing users to share the purchase across family members’ accounts. Once enabled, this cannot be disabled.
You can also choose to make your in-app purchases available in any supported country or region.
3. In-App Purchase Pricing
Select the country first to set a price. Prices cannot be manually set but must be chosen from the dropdown list. Adjust prices for different countries as needed.
4. Set Tax Category
Choose the tax category for your app, affecting the in-app purchase price.
5. App Store Localization
If your app targets users from different regions or countries, provide localized product information, including the display name and description.
6. App Store Promotion & Review Information
For promotions, upload an image (below 1024 x 1024 pixels) that will appear on your app’s product page when a customer redeems an offer code.
Screenshots in the review section are for Apple reviews only and will not be displayed on the App Store.
After successfully defining in-app purchases, upload a build with a billing library to enable it.
Billing Grace Period
A billing grace period allows subscribers to keep access to your app’s paid content even if their subscription expires due to a billing issue for a selected time period.
Conclusion
In this section, we outlined the steps for creating subscription and in-app purchase products, as well as setting a grace period for payment failures.
In Part 3, we’ll cover the steps for integrating in-app purchases and subscriptions on Android.
For more updates on the latest tools and technologies, follow the Simform Engineering blog.