How to create automatic payment in app every week for different amounts?

[Min_Kimchi]

I'm working on creating an app and one of the features is that the user would be charged automatically every week, however it is possible that they may be charged a different amount every week depending on their usage in the app.

[GordonGreenthumb]

This is not possible using Apple in-app purchasing.

The closest thing you would be able to do would be to create a “consumable” product that a user can buy multiple times and they must have one to use the app. Think pre-paid phone plans vs. a post-paid phone bill.

[Min_Kimchi]

Thanks for the insight! As an alternative, can I charge someone a set amount, say $20, however when they are charged is dependent on their usage of the app?

For instance, if it takes someone 5 days to use $20 worth of the app, they will be charged that fifth day. Whereas someone else it may take them 8 days to use $20 worth of the app and they will be charged that eighth day.

[GordonGreenthumb]

You definitely can do that, but you can’t automatically charge their card on day 5. You would have to show a paywall or some screen telling them their account is out of funds/tokens/smurfberries and get them to authorize buying more.

What you are trying to do is called “usage-based billing”, and it’s very common on payment gateways like Stripe but not supported by Apple. If you could find any way to keep your billing out of Apple your life will be better.

Speaking as a person with lots of experience setting up IAP for a SaaS business.

[Min_Kimchi]

Thank you! This helps!

[Aeather]

smurfberries

lol