In-App Purchase (Apple Developer)
Apple's official guide to selling digital content and subscriptions inside iOS apps with StoreKit: product types, subscription groups, offers, testing in the sandbox and App Store Connect setup. Read it with the App Store Small Business Program page, which halves the commission for most small developers.
Guide
Other
Apple
A week to implement and test
Intermediate
Free
What it covers
Apple's In-App Purchase pages explain the four product types (consumables, non-consumables, auto-renewable subscriptions and non-renewing subscriptions), how to configure them in App Store Connect, how StoreKit presents and verifies purchases, how to offer free trials and introductory prices, and how to test with sandbox accounts and StoreKit testing in Xcode.
Why it matters
If your iOS app sells digital features or content, Apple's rules generally require In-App Purchase for sales inside the app. Getting this wrong is one of the most common reasons apps are rejected in review. Rules about linking to outside payment options now differ by region, notably in the EU and the US, so read the current App Review Guidelines for each storefront rather than relying on old advice.
Costs (as of 2026-09)
- Apple Developer Program: $99 a year for individuals and organisations (local prices vary). Organisations need a D-U-N-S number.
- Commission: the standard rate is 30%. The App Store Small Business Program lowers it to 15% for developers who earned up to $1 million in proceeds in the previous calendar year, and for new developers. You must enrol; it is not automatic.
- Auto-renewable subscriptions have their own rates after the first year; check Apple's pages for the current figures in your storefronts.
What you can do after reading
- Set up a subscription group with monthly and yearly plans and a free trial.
- Implement purchase, restore and entitlement checks with StoreKit 2.
- Test renewals and cancellations in the sandbox before you submit.
Prerequisites
Basic iOS development in Swift, a paid developer account and signed agreements (the Paid Apps agreement) in App Store Connect, including tax and banking details.
Common questions
Can I use RevenueCat instead? RevenueCat sits on top of StoreKit and Google Play Billing; you still configure products with Apple. It saves you building receipt validation and cross-platform entitlements.
Do I need a company? No. Individuals can enrol, and the seller name shown is your legal name.
Sources: developer.apple.com/in-app-purchase, developer.apple.com/app-store/small-business-program and developer.apple.com/programs/enroll, checked 2026-09.
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