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iOS subscriptions & monetization

iOS subscriptions and monetization with StoreKit 2 and RevenueCat

Turn an existing iOS app into a properly monetized product: paywalls, free trials, introductory offers, purchase restoration and the full subscription lifecycle — implemented natively and measured.

Improve monetization See shipped work

Scope

What's included

Implementation

StoreKit 2 or RevenueCat integration, chosen to fit your app.
Products and offers configured in App Store Connect: subscriptions, free trials and introductory offers.
Paywall design and implementation that matches your product.
Purchase restoration and entitlement handling that works across devices and reinstalls.
Subscription lifecycle — renewals, expiry, billing retry and cancellation handled correctly.

Measurement and compliance

Analytics for trial starts, conversion to paid, plan mix and churn.
App Review compliance for subscriptions: clear pricing, a restore option and required legal links.
Optimization — reviewing paywall placement, trial length and pricing, one change at a time.

Pricing and paywall changes are experiments. I can't promise a specific conversion lift — I can set things up so you learn quickly what works.

Choosing

StoreKit 2 or RevenueCat?

Both are good. The right one depends on what you need to run.

StoreKit 2 directly

Best for iOS-only apps with straightforward entitlements. No third-party dependency, no extra service to pay for, and Apple's modern async API makes it clean to work with.

RevenueCat

Worth it when you need cross-platform entitlements, server-side receipt handling, remote paywall and offer changes, or subscription dashboards without building them yourself.

Proof

Subscription products I've shipped

FIThim

Fitness · iPhone & iPad · formerly Gym Tracker & Workout Planner

Challenge: Give beginners the feel of a personal trainer — a plan matched to their goal and body — without the sign-up wall most fitness apps put in front of the first workout.
Solution: A few onboarding questions set the goal, focus areas and activity level, then the app computes daily calories and builds today's workout from 152 exercises with real photos and animated demos. Water, weight, streaks and reminders are built in. Version 3.0 (September 2026) rebuilt the app from the ground up: no account, fully offline, dark mode.
Outcome: Live since 2023. The core is free; a FIThim Pro auto-renewing subscription unlocks hand-built workouts from the full library. Rated 5.0★ on the Romanian App Store (14 ratings).

App Store ↗Website ↗

Civio

Exam prep · Romanian, German & US editions

Challenge: Three countries, three different citizenship tests — different question banks, formats and rules — and one small team to serve all of them.
Solution: One shared engine — quizzes, Leitner-system spaced repetition, exam simulation, progress tracking and subscriptions — configured for each country's official format. Romania's interview module lives in its own component.
Outcome: Three apps live on the App Store: Romanian, German (420+ official BAMF questions) and US (USCIS civics test) editions.

How it was built →App Store (US edition) ↗Website ↗

Also live: Foaie Parcurs (PRO with monthly, yearly or lifetime purchase), My Mustang (lifetime Pro) and BacIstorie (optional Pro). My apps share a paywall component, so a proven flow doesn't have to be rebuilt each time. I compare the models in subscription vs. one-time pricing.

FAQ

Questions about iOS subscriptions

Can you add subscriptions to an app I already have?

Yes. That's a common project: add products, a paywall and entitlement checks to an existing app without disturbing what already works.

What's the difference between a free trial and an introductory offer?

A free trial gives access for a set period before the first charge. An introductory offer is a discounted price for the first billing period(s). Both are configured in App Store Connect and presented in the paywall.

Subscription, lifetime purchase or both?

It depends on your users and how ongoing your value is. Many apps offer both. The trade-offs are covered in the blog post linked above.

Will my paywall pass App Review?

Apple makes the final decision, so I can't guarantee it. I build against the subscription guidelines: clear pricing and terms, a restore option and honest trial messaging.

Do you also work on the app itself?

Yes. Monetization works best when it's designed together with the product, so I can improve onboarding and feature gating as part of the same project.

Want your app to earn properly?

Tell me about your app and how it makes money today. I'll suggest where to start.

Improve monetization madalin@istack.ro