Been thinking about this for weeks now. What if we gave web subscribers some extra features that app store subscribers don’t get?
Not sure if this violates any platform policies though. Anyone actually tried this approach?
We tested this 8 months ago with our productivity app. Added web-only stuff like advanced analytics and bulk exports.
Worked great - direct subscriptions jumped 22% in 3 months. The trick was making these feel like actual bonuses, not features app users were getting screwed out of.
Don’t promote the web version in your app or mention price differences. Focus on extra value, not savings. Apple gets pissed if they think you’re steering users away from their payment system.
This video explains why subscription apps need multiple channels:
Watch your retention though. Our web subscribers had lower engagement, so factor that into LTV calculations.
Both Apple and Google allow this as long as you don’t mention price differences in your app. Many apps offer web users perks like more storage or better support. Make sure these web bonuses are separate from the app store version. Avoid steering users away from in-app purchases.