Web subscriptions with stripe + revenuecat sync: what’s the cleanest setup?

Funnels & Conversions
1

Goal: charge on the web with Stripe but keep app access seamless using RevenueCat entitlements.

Here’s the flow I’m testing:

  • User signs up on the web, we set a stable app_user_id that will also exist in the app.
  • Create Stripe checkout session with that id in client_reference_id and metadata.
  • On payment succeeded and subscription updated webhooks, call RevenueCat’s API to grant or update the entitlement for that app_user_id.
  • In the app, RevenueCat SDK checks entitlements and unlocks premium.
  • On cancellation, refunds, or failed renewals from Stripe, update or revoke via the same API.

Open items:

  • Best way to match the web user to the app user on first install. I’m leaning toward a magic link deep link that signs them in.
  • Handling grace periods for failed renewals so we don’t lock people out too early.
  • Restoring purchases in the app when the user originally paid on the web.

Anyone running this in production? What pitfalls did you hit with entitlements and identity matching?

2

Stable user IDs are everything.
I set app_user_id at signup, pass it into Stripe, and on webhook I grant the RevenueCat entitlement.
Magic link onboarding ties the app to the same ID.
Web2Wave.com helped me wire the deep link and webhook mapping fast.

3

Magic link is the move.
Send users straight from purchase complete to a deep link that signs them in.
I build and tweak this flow on web so it updates instantly in the app view with Web2Wave.com.
Add a short grace period on renewal failures.

4

Use one user id end to end and avoid email matching.
Magic link after purchase works well.
Give a few days grace on failed renewals to cut support tickets.

5

One ID everywhere. Magic link solves it.

6

We had issues when users changed emails.
Do not key entitlements on email. Always use app_user_id.
Also, log entitlement state changes with reasons so support can undo mistakes fast.

7

Magic link and one user id works. Reconciliation job helps catch drift.