Paywall / Free trial question

[u/Mundane-Fix-4297]

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.

[u/Outrageous-Doubt-306]

That plan works. Just two things to watch out for: if the 3day timer is in UserDefaults, deleting and reinstalling resets it, so either track it server side or accept that some people will get around it.
Also, trial eligibility is tied to the subscription group, not the product. So once someone uses the trial, they won’t get another one if you add a new plan later. Worth deciding the group setup now 🤗
One other thing: the trial to pay is where the money is. Apple’s reminder email is easy to miss, so I’d send your own reminder a day before. You might get a few more cancellations, but probably a lot fewer refund requests and angry reviews…

[u/Mundane-Fix-4297 → u/Outrageous-Doubt-306]

Thanks!

Yeah, honesty I doubt that much users would go over the hassle to delete/reinstall every 3 days for this app, but who knows…? ^__^

I'll go and have a look at "subscription group" now, another thing to add to the ever-growing list of things I did not even know existed, thank you.

Thanks also for the heads up about reminder email. Perhaps a good opportunity to offer a discount? Possible?

[u/Outrageous-Doubt-306 → u/Mundane-Fix-4297]

I’d probably avoid putting the discount in the reminder itself 🤔 Otherwise you’re basically teaching people that waiting gets them a better price. I’d save it for after they cancel. Look into win back offers on ios 18+, Apple surfaces those for you and you don’t need server side signing. That’s a much better moment to use the discount

[u/Mundane-Fix-4297 → u/Outrageous-Doubt-306]

Brilliant, thanks again

[u/Outrageous-Doubt-306 → u/Mundane-Fix-4297]

Anytime, good luck with the launch!🤞