Payments and subscription infrastructure providers Paddle and RevenueCat have teamed up to launch an alternative to Apple’s in-app purchases in the wake of a U.S. App Store policy change that now allows app developers to process their own payments. The companies on Tuesday announced a new integration that allows users to make purchases from developers’ apps, whether on web or mobile devices.
Paddle manages the web-specific payments, along with associated tax and compliance complexities. Meanwhile, thanks to RevenueCat, developers have access to their subscription data and performance across both web and mobile platforms.
The ability to even offer links for in-app purchases via the web is a new change for iOS applications in the U.S. The decision came down from District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers as part of the court’s ruling in Fortnite maker Epic Games’ antitrust lawsuit against Apple. While Apple largely won its case, as the court declared it was not a monopolist, it was also forced to allow developers to link out to web payment options without having to pay Apple a commission.
Combined, the new solution from Paddle and RevenueCat offers a way for users to subscribe once on one platform — web or mobile — then automatically access their subscription across all devices. Plus, subscription data is stored in the RevenueCat dashboard, where developers can track real-time analytics across web, iOS, and Android for easy access.
Some apps already use services from both providers, like the running app Runna. In that case, the new integration offers a more seamless path to web monetization, the companies explain.
“There’s a huge opportunity for subscription apps to grow revenue by expanding to the web — but that shift brings new technical and operational challenges,” said Jimmy Fitzgerald, CEO of Paddle, in a statement shared with TechCrunch. “By partnering with RevenueCat, we’re making it easier for developers to manage subscriptions across platforms, while giving them more control over how and where they monetize.”
RevenueCat co-founder and CEO Jacob Eiting, whose service today powers over 70,000 apps, added that Paddle was a great partner on the new effort, which will allow developers to offer web-based payments alongside traditional app stores.
