Tracking micro-interactions in our onboarding flow shifted our understanding of user behavior.
Users abandoned after seeing the paywall too early, not due to confusion.
After moving it two screens later, conversion rates jumped by 34%.
We moved our paywall after users created their first project. Retention went up but conversion stayed flat. Timing matters but the offer matters more.
Paywall timing is everything. Most apps show it way too early because they panic about monetization. I’ve seen this pattern dozens of times. The sweet spot is usually after users complete their first meaningful action or see initial value. Run cohort analysis on when users who actually convert first encounter your paywall. That timing becomes your baseline. Then test moving it earlier or later based on that data. The users who bounce early weren’t going to pay anyway.
Similar discovery here with a dating app.
We were obsessing over button colors and copy, but the real issue was placement.
Users were hitting the premium screen before they understood the core value. Once we let them complete their first match flow, upgrade rates nearly doubled.
The data showed us we were solving the wrong problem. Sometimes you need to let users fall in love with the experience first.
Understanding user actions reveals valuable insights. I focus on key behaviors that indicate readiness to pay and trigger the paywall after achieving first results. Your 34% increase is logical since users want to see the app’s value before spending.