I have a $4 USD, one-time-purchase app (Dash Calc) and sales have been rough. In a crowded category, an paid-upfront app feels like a tough sell without a way to try it first. I’d like to offer a simple 7-day free trial followed by a single lifetime purchase, but App Store Connect still doesn’t officially support trials for paid apps.
In Jan 2023, an App Store Commerce Engineer recommended the $0 non-consumable IAP + paid non-consumable IAP workaround:
I haven’t implemented it yet, but the subsequent discussion suggests the approach is overly complex. Handling refunds, reinstalls, activation timing, and purchase history requires non-obvious logic, and some developers report customer confusion and drop-off when presented with a $0 trial IAP.
Has anything improved since 2023?
- Any new StoreKit APIs or App Store Connect changes that make this simpler or less error-prone?
- Is the $0 non-consumable IAP still the recommended approach in 2026?
- Any updated guidance for time-limited access on one-time purchases?
I’m happy to use the workaround if it’s still the official path—I just want to confirm there isn’t a better option now.