The purchase types and how they differ
Apple requires digital goods and services consumed in your app to sell through in-app purchase, built on StoreKit. There are four types, and picking the right one shapes the whole design.
The newer StoreKit 2 makes purchases and subscription status easier to verify with signed transactions, but you still need server-side handling to grant access reliably and detect refunds or lapses.
- Consumable: used up and rebought, like coins or credits
- Non-consumable: bought once and owned forever, like a feature unlock
- Auto-renewable subscription: recurring access, like a monthly plan
- Non-renewing subscription: fixed-term access the user renews manually
- Introductory offers, free trials, and promotional offers for subscriptions
- Family Sharing support for eligible purchase types
Building it so it actually works
The parts that break in the wild are the invisible ones: restoring purchases on a new device, keeping entitlement in sync when a subscription renews or lapses, and handling refunds and billing retries.
We build the client with StoreKit and back it with server-side receipt and transaction verification plus App Store Server Notifications, so a user's access reflects their real subscription state, not a stale guess.
- StoreKit 2 purchase flow with signed transaction verification
- Server-side validation and App Store Server Notifications for renewals and cancellations
- Restore-purchases flow so users keep access across devices
- Handle grace periods, billing retry, refunds, and upgrades/downgrades
- Product setup, pricing tiers, and tax/agreements in App Store Connect
- Test with sandbox accounts and StoreKit testing before launch
More on ios apps
Frequently asked questions
Can we use Stripe or our own checkout instead of Apple's?
Not for digital goods consumed in the app; Apple requires in-app purchase there and takes a commission. Physical goods and real-world services can use Apple Pay or other processors. We'll make sure your model uses the right one and passes review.
How much does Apple take?
Apple charges a commission on in-app purchases, with a reduced rate available to smaller developers through the App Store Small Business Program. Rates and programs change, so confirm current terms with Apple. We build the integration; the commission is Apple's.
Why do we need a server for purchases?
Because subscriptions change after the sale: they renew, lapse, refund, or get canceled. Server-side verification and App Store notifications keep each user's access accurate. Skipping that leads to users losing access they paid for, or keeping access they didn't.