Been looking at our international revenue and wondering if we’re leaving money on the table.
Currently just doing straight USD conversion but seeing mixed results across regions. Some markets seem way more price sensitive than others.
We tried currency conversion first. Huge mistake.
Switched to purchasing power parity 18 months ago. Pulled World Bank data to see what our $9.99 tier should actually cost in different markets.
Ended up at $2.99 in Vietnam, $4.99 in Mexico, kept $9.99 for US/UK. Volume tripled in the cheaper markets.
The annoying part? Apple and Google only give you preset price tiers. Can’t hit exact PPP numbers - just get as close as you can.
Also found out some markets absolutely hate subscriptions. Had to flip to one-time purchases in countries where monthly billing tanked conversions.
We drop prices about 40% in emerging markets. Conversion rates go way up even though individual purchases are smaller.
Using regional pricing suggestions from app stores is a smart move.
I focus on local competitor prices instead of currency conversions. It takes about 10 minutes for each country and helps avoid high prices.
Start with their recommendations and adjust based on your conversion data after some time.
Localized pricing destroys currency conversion every time. Price based on what people can actually pay and what competitors charge - ignore exchange rates. I’ve watched apps double their revenue in places like India or Brazil by pricing 30-50% under what straight USD conversion gives you. Rich markets like Switzerland? Charge 20% more than you think you can. Pick your top 5 markets and test different price points. The data tells you exactly what works in each spot.