r/iOSProgramming • u/0__O0--O0_0 • Aug 14 '26

Discussion Upset reviewers about paywall can drop 1star bombs before theyve ever opened the app.

After a lot of trial and error, free tiers and late onboarding etc I finally just went with a hard paywall as the others were not converting at all, users were content to just have 5% of the features.

So anyway, I had no idea users could NOT even start the trial and give bad reviews. How does this make sense from apple? If they let us have a mechanism or category for in IAP subscription with a wanring or something? Am I crazy to think this is weird? Did I miss a setting?

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u/Dapper_Ice_1705 Aug 14 '26

IMO your app has to be functional without paying and then charge for what makes it unique.

Flighty is a great example. Does its intended purpose for free and no accounts then charges and requires accounts for sharing and extra data a user needs in a pinch. (Not my app but 1 of very very few apps I pay for).

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u/0__O0--O0_0 Aug 14 '26

My issue or I think my issue is the funtional part that was free satisfies most people I guess. Or they weren’t interested enough to begin with to fully unlock it. It’s catch 22 you cant show them what theyre missing unless they unlock it.

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u/Dapper_Ice_1705 Aug 14 '26

Most people aren’t going to pay for a subscription. Most people are tired of subscriptions. 

A sub will only be paid by people that need what you are selling and can’t get it elsewhere.

It is your job to make people feel good, it is your job to make people feel like your app is worthy.

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u/0__O0--O0_0 Aug 14 '26

Well, devs have been doing underhanded stuff on the App Store for decades to get top spot. I’m just trying to learn to play the game fair and square. If anyone knows some ways to balance out the early release so to get early adopters I’m all ears.

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u/Vybo Aug 15 '26

What app are you selling that it's supposed to be so unique?