Monetization Strategy
End-to-end monetization guidance for Apple platform apps — from "should I charge?" to "here's your pricing page structure."
When This Skill Activates
Use this skill when the user:
- Asks "should I monetize my app?" or "is my app ready to charge?"
- Wants help choosing between freemium, subscription, or one-time purchase
- Needs pricing tier recommendations
- Asks about free trial strategy
- Wants to plan monetization for a specific app type (kids, therapy, productivity, etc.)
- Mentions "pricing", "revenue model", or "how to make money from my app"
- Wants to understand Apple's commission structure
Process
Phase 1: Readiness Assessment
Before recommending a pricing model, evaluate whether the app is ready to monetize. Ask these questions via AskUserQuestion:
1. App Stage
- Pre-launch (idea/prototype)
- Beta / TestFlight
- Live with users (< 1K)
- Live with traction (1K+ users)
2. Value Proposition
- What problem does your app solve?
- Who is the target user?
- What alternatives exist (including doing nothing)?
3. Current State
- Do you have active users?
- What's your retention like? (Day 1, Day 7, Day 30)
- Are users asking for features / willing to pay?
Readiness Scorecard
Evaluate against these criteria:
| Signal | Ready | Not Ready |
|---|---|---|
| Core value | Clear, differentiated | Still finding product-market fit |
| User retention | D7 > 20% | D7 < 10% |
| User feedback | "I'd pay for this" | Silence or complaints |
| Feature depth | Enough for free + paid split | Everything feels essential |
| Competition | You offer something unique | Commodity feature set |
| Polish | Professional quality | Rough edges everywhere |
Recommendation thresholds:
- 5-6 Ready signals → Monetize now
- 3-4 Ready signals → Soft-launch pricing (low price, gather data)
- 0-2 Ready signals → Focus on product first, monetize later
Phase 2: Pricing Model Selection
Based on app type and user behavior, recommend the right model.
Decision Framework
Is the app used daily/weekly?
├── YES → Does it provide ongoing value?
│ ├── YES → SUBSCRIPTION
│ └── NO → ONE-TIME PURCHASE (with optional tip jar)
└── NO → Is it a utility/tool?
├── YES → ONE-TIME PURCHASE or FREEMIUM
└── NO → Is it content-based?
├── YES → SUBSCRIPTION or CONSUMABLE IAP
└── NO → FREEMIUM with premium unlock
Model Comparison
Read pricing-models.md for detailed comparison of each model:
- Subscriptions (auto-renewable)
- One-time purchase (paid upfront or freemium unlock)
- Consumable IAP (credits, tokens)
- Non-consumable IAP (feature unlock)
- Tip jar / patronage
- Ad-supported with premium upgrade
App-Type Recommendations
Read app-type-guides.md for specific guidance by app category:
- Productivity / task management
- Health / therapy / wellness
- Kids / education
- Creative tools
- Social / community
- Developer tools
- Finance / budgeting
Phase 3: Tier Structure
Once a model is selected, design the tier structure.
Subscription Tiers (if applicable)
Two-tier structure (recommended for most indie apps):
FREE PRO ($X.99/mo or $XX.99/yr)
───────────────────── ─────────────────────────────
Core functionality Everything in Free
Limited usage/storage Unlimited usage
Basic features Advanced features
Priority support (optional)
Early access to new features
Three-tier structure (for apps with clear user segments):
FREE PLUS ($X.99/mo) PRO ($XX.99/mo)
──────────── ────────────────── ──────────────────
Basic use Power user Professional/team
Ads/limits No ads, more quota Unlimited + extras
Pricing Psychology
- Anchor pricing: Show yearly first to make monthly look expensive
- Price ending: Use .99 for < $10, round numbers for premium ($19, $29)
- Yearly discount: 15-40% off monthly equivalent (sweet spot: ~30%)
- Decoy effect: Three tiers where middle looks like best value
- Regional pricing: Use App Store price tiers for automatic localization
Free vs. Paid Feature Split
The hardest decision. Follow these principles:
Free tier should:
- Demonstrate the core value proposition
- Be genuinely useful (not a crippled demo)
- Create natural upgrade moments ("you've hit the limit")
- Let users invest time/data before hitting the paywall
Paid tier should:
- Unlock power/convenience, not basic functionality
- Feel like "more of what you love" not "removing annoyances"
- Include at least one "hero feature" worth paying for alone
❌ Bad splits:
- Free: Can view data → Paid: Can edit data (feels hostile)
- Free: 3-day trial → Paid: Everything (no ongoing free value)
- Free: Everything → Paid: Remove ads (weak value prop)
✅ Good splits:
- Free: 5 projects → Paid: Unlimited projects + templates
- Free: Basic tracking → Paid: Insights, trends, export
- Free: Single device → Paid: Sync across devices + widgets
Phase 4: Free Trial Strategy
Trial Types
| Type | Best For | Apple Support |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory offer (free) | Subscriptions | Built-in via App Store |
| Introductory offer (discounted) | High-value subscriptions | Built-in via App Store |
| Feature-limited free tier | Freemium apps | N/A (your logic) |
| Time-limited full access | Productivity apps | Built-in via App Store |
Trial Duration Recommendations
| App Type | Trial Length | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Daily-use productivity | 7 days | Quick to see value |
| Health/fitness tracking | 14 days | Need time to build habit |
| Creative tools | 7 days | One project cycle |
| Business/professional | 14-30 days | Need to integrate into workflow |
| Education/learning | 7 days | One learning cycle |
Trial Conversion Tactics
- Onboard to premium features during trial (not free features)
- Show "trial ending" reminder 2-3 days before expiration
- Highlight value received ("You tracked 47 workouts this month")
- Offer annual option at trial end (bigger commitment but better price)
- Win-back offer if they don't convert (promotional offer after 30 days)
Phase 5: Implementation Guidance
After strategy is set, guide implementation.
Apple Commission Structure
| Scenario | Apple's Cut | You Keep |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (Year 1) | 30% | 70% |
| After Year 1 of subscription | 15% | 85% |
| Small Business Program (< $1M/yr) | 15% | 85% |
| Small Business + Year 2 subscription | 15% | 85% |
Important: Revenue calculations should always account for Apple's cut. A $9.99/mo subscription with Small Business Program = ~$8.49/mo to you.
StoreKit 2 Implementation
For code generation, refer users to the paywall-generator skill:
Use the paywall-generator skill to create:
- StoreKit 2 subscription management
- Paywall UI (SwiftUI)
- Receipt validation
- Subscription status tracking
Paywall UI Patterns (HIG-Compliant)
Do:
- Show feature comparison (free vs. paid)
- Display price per period clearly
- Highlight savings on annual plan
- Include "Restore Purchases" button
- Show terms of service and privacy policy links
- Use system subscription views where available (iOS 18.4+)
Don't:
- Block the app immediately on launch
- Use dark patterns (hidden close button, confusing language)
- Make it hard to dismiss the paywall
- Misrepresent subscription terms
- Auto-select the most expensive option
App Store Review Guidelines (Monetization)
Key rules to follow:
- 3.1.1: In-app purchase required for digital content/features
- 3.1.2: Subscriptions must provide ongoing value
- 3.1.3: "Reader" apps can link to web for account management
- 3.2.2: Unacceptable business models (bait-and-switch, etc.)
- 5.6: Developer Code of Conduct (no manipulative tactics)
Output Format
Present monetization strategy as:
# Monetization Strategy: [App Name]
## Readiness Assessment
**Score**: X/6 — [Ready to monetize / Soft-launch / Focus on product]
| Signal | Status | Notes |
|--------|--------|-------|
| Core value | ✅/❌ | ... |
| Retention | ✅/❌ | ... |
| User demand | ✅/❌ | ... |
| Feature depth | ✅/❌ | ... |
| Differentiation | ✅/❌ | ... |
| Polish | ✅/❌ | ... |
## Recommended Model
**[Model Name]** — [One-line rationale]
## Tier Structure
| Feature | Free | Pro ($X.99/mo) |
|---------|------|-----------------|
| ... | ✅ | ✅ |
| ... | Limited | Unlimited |
| ... | ❌ | ✅ |
**Annual pricing**: $XX.99/yr (XX% savings)
## Free Trial
**Type**: [Introductory offer / Feature-limited / etc.]
**Duration**: [X days]
**Conversion tactics**: [Bullet list]
## Revenue Projections (Conservative)
| Metric | Estimate |
|--------|----------|
| Monthly price | $X.99 |
| Annual price | $XX.99 |
| Conversion rate (free→paid) | X-X% |
| Revenue per 1K MAU | $XXX-$XXX/mo |
## Implementation Checklist
- [ ] Configure products in App Store Connect
- [ ] Implement StoreKit 2 (use paywall-generator skill)
- [ ] Design paywall UI
- [ ] Set up introductory offers
- [ ] Add analytics for conversion tracking
- [ ] Test with StoreKit Configuration file
- [ ] Submit for review
## Next Steps
1. [First action item]
2. [Second action item]
3. [Third action item]
References
- pricing-models.md — Detailed comparison of all pricing models
- app-type-guides.md — Category-specific monetization recommendations
- paywall-generator skill — For StoreKit 2 code generation
- app-store skill — For App Store description optimization
- Apple App Store Review Guidelines §3 (Business)
- Apple StoreKit 2 documentation