Been debating whether to build paywall into the onboarding flow right from launch.
Most apps I see wait until users get some value first but wondering if anyone here went straight SDK integration from day one and how it performed.
I tested this with two similar apps and the early paywall killed conversion rates completely.
Users need to see some actual value before you ask for money. Even just letting them complete one core action first made a huge difference in my case.
The SDK setup is easy to move around later so I would start without it and add the paywall after users engage with your main feature.
Just depends on your app type really.
Different take here. Day one paywalls can work if you nail the positioning upfront. The issue isn’t timing, it’s context. Show clear value props and use cases before the paywall screen. Demo the core features with preview content or screenshots. Let them understand exactly what they’re buying. Tested this with productivity apps where we previewed premium templates and tools first. Conversion wasn’t amazing but users who paid had much better retention than those who got free trials. Really depends on your category and price point though.
We tried it once and barely got any subscribers. People just bounced right away.
Launched three apps with paywalls in the first screen and learned this the hard way. The sign-up rates were brutal - around 2-3% compared to 15-20% when we moved it later.
What killed us wasn’t just asking for money too early. It was that people had no idea what they were paying for yet. They couldn’t see the interface, the content quality, or how the app actually worked.
Now I always let users complete at least one meaningful action first. For a recipe app, let them save a recipe. For fitness, let them log a workout. Then hit them with the paywall.
The tricky part is finding that sweet spot where they’ve seen enough value but haven’t gotten everything for free. Usually happens within the first 2-3 screens after onboarding.
Trust me, those extra few days of development to move the paywall later will pay off in actual subscriptions.