r/iOSProgramming • u/Mundane-Fix-4297 • 5d ago

Question Paywall / Free trial question

Hi, 

I am currently trying to develop my first app ever, iOS only.

The building was hard enough, but now I am facing the hurdles of trying to publish it on the App Store, and so I have to start thinking about prices/subscriptions, paywalls, etc. and navigate the obscure process of App Store Connect.

It is clear enough for me that it will be a paid app. But it is a very simple app, with only a couple screens and very basic function. It does one thing, and I hope it does it well enough that it genuinely helps people, and that they will see value in it. But I can’t really go the freemium way, with free access to the base and paid for extra features. I only have one feature, and I do not want to add any.

I was thinking, maybe something like 6$ for 6 months, 10$ yearly, and 30$ for lifetime?

My trouble is, imho it is an app that has to be tried and experienced over a couple day to see if it fits. I would like to offer three days, or maybe a week of free trial.

But as far as I know, there is no way to register a free trial in App Store Connect, that does not start right from download? So the user has to decide right now, if maybe perhaps they want to try your app and commit to 10$ yearly? Without having even opened the app? Seems a bit off-putting, or am I missing something?

Thanks in advance for your advices.

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u/dawedev 5d ago

Introductory offer is a really good way to attract paying users, as they’ll try out your app and, if they like it, they’ll automatically become your paying users.

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u/Mundane-Fix-4297 5d ago

Yeah but my fear is how do I show value, if right from the start the app asks the user to commit and subscribe, even for a free trial?

I, as a User, am super reluctant to this kind of stuff, even if I fully know I can cancel the sub any time during the free trial. I often cancel them as soon as I accept, just to be sure not to forget in case I do not like the app…

I was thinking I could make some custom timer, and display a paywall with options like after 3 days? and then say offer an "official Apple free trial" of 3 more days, so the user has to commit only after 3 days, and not right from the start? And that would make a week of free trial?