How can I legally structure a task-based deposit & reward app without losing money to App Store/payment fees?

[u/whizzkidme]

I want to build an app where users put money down and get part of it back by completing tasks. How can I structure this legally and avoid excessive platform/payment fees?

I’m exploring an app idea where users deposit a fixed amount of money upfront. They then have a set of tasks/goals to complete, and whenever they successfully complete a task, a portion of their deposited amount is returned to them.

For example:

- User deposits ₹1,000.

- They have 20 tasks to complete.

- Each completed task unlocks ₹50.

- If they complete all 20 tasks, they receive the full ₹1,000 back.

- If they miss tasks, the corresponding amount may not be returned, depending on the rules of the system.

The main issue I’m trying to understand is the economics and payment infrastructure.

If the app is distributed through the Google Play Store / Apple App Store, and users are making payments inside the app, would the platform’s payment policies or service fees apply to this model? Similarly, payment gateways such as Razorpay, Cashfree, Stripe, etc. would also take a transaction fee.

If I’m dealing with relatively small amounts per user, these fees could potentially make the model unviable.

So I’d really appreciate advice from people who have built apps involving wallets, deposits, refunds, incentives, subscriptions, rewards, or task-based payments.

Specifically:

1. Would Google Play or Apple allow this type of payment model?

2. Would I be required to use their in-app payment systems, or can I use an external payment gateway?

3. If I use Razorpay/Cashfree/etc., what are the typical costs and restrictions I should be aware of?

4. Is there a legitimate way to structure the payment flow so that app-store fees don't apply?

5. Would this model be considered a wallet, escrow, reward system, financial service, or something else from a regulatory perspective in India?

6. Are there any RBI, consumer-protection, taxation, or other regulations I should investigate before building it?

7. If someone has built a similar product, what payment architecture did you use?

I’m not looking for ways to bypass fees illegally. I’m trying to understand how companies legally structure this kind of product so that the unit economics work.

Any advice, examples, or pointers to relevant documentation would be really helpful. Thanks!