In-App Purchase Setup for Google Play

Use this skill when you need to set up monetization for your Android app.

Product Types

1. In-App Products - One-time or consumable purchases
2. Subscriptions - Recurring billing with base plans and offers

In-App Products (IAP)

List products

gplay iap list --package com.example.app

Create product

gplay iap create \
  --package com.example.app \
  --sku premium_upgrade \
  --json @product.json

product.json

{
  "sku": "premium_upgrade",
  "status": "active",
  "purchaseType": "managedUser",
  "defaultPrice": {
    "priceMicros": "990000",
    "currency": "USD"
  },
  "prices": {
    "US": {
      "priceMicros": "990000",
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    "GB": {
      "priceMicros": "799000",
      "currency": "GBP"
    }
  },
  "listings": {
    "en-US": {
      "title": "Premium Upgrade",
      "description": "Unlock all premium features"
    },
    "es-ES": {
      "title": "Actualización Premium",
      "description": "Desbloquea todas las funciones premium"
    }
  }
}

Update product

gplay iap update \
  --package com.example.app \
  --sku premium_upgrade \
  --json @product-updated.json

Batch operations

# Update multiple products
gplay iap batch-update \
  --package com.example.app \
  --json @products.json

# Get multiple products
gplay iap batch-get \
  --package com.example.app \
  --skus "premium,coins_100,coins_500"

Delete product

gplay iap delete \
  --package com.example.app \
  --sku premium_upgrade \
  --confirm

Subscriptions

List subscriptions

gplay subscriptions list --package com.example.app

Create subscription

gplay subscriptions create \
  --package com.example.app \
  --json @subscription.json

subscription.json

{
  "productId": "premium_monthly",
  "basePlans": [
    {
      "basePlanId": "monthly",
      "state": "ACTIVE",
      "regionalConfigs": [
        {
          "regionCode": "US",
          "price": {
            "priceMicros": "4990000",
            "currency": "USD"
          }
        }
      ],
      "autoRenewingBasePlanType": {
        "billingPeriodDuration": "P1M"
      }
    },
    {
      "basePlanId": "yearly",
      "state": "ACTIVE",
      "regionalConfigs": [
        {
          "regionCode": "US",
          "price": {
            "priceMicros": "49990000",
            "currency": "USD"
          }
        }
      ],
      "autoRenewingBasePlanType": {
        "billingPeriodDuration": "P1Y"
      }
    }
  ],
  "listings": {
    "en-US": {
      "title": "Premium Subscription",
      "description": "Get all premium features"
    }
  }
}

Base Plans

Base plans define the billing period and price for subscriptions.

Activate base plan

gplay baseplans activate \
  --package com.example.app \
  --product-id premium_monthly \
  --base-plan monthly

Deactivate base plan

gplay baseplans deactivate \
  --package com.example.app \
  --product-id premium_monthly \
  --base-plan monthly

Migrate prices

gplay baseplans migrate-prices \
  --package com.example.app \
  --product-id premium_monthly \
  --base-plan monthly \
  --json @migration.json

Subscription Offers

Offers provide discounts, free trials, or introductory pricing.

List offers

gplay offers list \
  --package com.example.app \
  --product-id premium_monthly \
  --base-plan monthly

Create offer

gplay offers create \
  --package com.example.app \
  --product-id premium_monthly \
  --base-plan monthly \
  --json @offer.json

offer.json (Free trial)

{
  "offerId": "trial_7day",
  "state": "ACTIVE",
  "phases": [
    {
      "duration": "P7D",
      "pricingType": "FREE_TRIAL"
    }
  ],
  "regionalConfigs": [
    {
      "regionCode": "US"
    }
  ]
}

offer.json (Introductory price)

{
  "offerId": "intro_50_off",
  "state": "ACTIVE",
  "phases": [
    {
      "duration": "P1M",
      "pricingType": "SINGLE_PAYMENT",
      "price": {
        "priceMicros": "2490000",
        "currency": "USD"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Activate/Deactivate offer

# Activate
gplay offers activate \
  --package com.example.app \
  --product-id premium_monthly \
  --base-plan monthly \
  --offer-id trial_7day

# Deactivate
gplay offers deactivate \
  --package com.example.app \
  --product-id premium_monthly \
  --base-plan monthly \
  --offer-id trial_7day

Regional Pricing

Convert prices

gplay pricing convert \
  --package com.example.app \
  --json @price-request.json

price-request.json

{
  "basePriceMicros": "4990000",
  "baseCurrency": "USD",
  "targetCurrencies": ["GBP", "EUR", "JPY"]
}

Common Monetization Patterns

Pattern 1: Simple IAP

# One-time premium upgrade
gplay iap create \
  --package com.example.app \
  --sku premium_unlock \
  --json @premium.json

Pattern 2: Consumable IAP

# Coins/gems that can be consumed
gplay iap create \
  --package com.example.app \
  --sku coins_100 \
  --json @coins.json

Pattern 3: Subscription with Free Trial

# 1. Create subscription
gplay subscriptions create \
  --package com.example.app \
  --json @sub.json

# 2. Create free trial offer
gplay offers create \
  --package com.example.app \
  --product-id premium \
  --base-plan monthly \
  --json @trial.json

Pattern 4: Multi-Tier Subscription

{
  "productId": "premium",
  "basePlans": [
    {
      "basePlanId": "basic_monthly",
      "price": {"priceMicros": "2990000", "currency": "USD"},
      "billingPeriodDuration": "P1M"
    },
    {
      "basePlanId": "premium_monthly",
      "price": {"priceMicros": "4990000", "currency": "USD"},
      "billingPeriodDuration": "P1M"
    },
    {
      "basePlanId": "premium_yearly",
      "price": {"priceMicros": "49990000", "currency": "USD"},
      "billingPeriodDuration": "P1Y"
    }
  ]
}

Testing

Use test purchases

In your app code, use test product IDs:

• android.test.purchased
• android.test.canceled
• android.test.refunded
• android.test.item_unavailable

License testing

Add test accounts in Play Console:
Settings → License Testing → Add license testers

Best Practices

1. Use clear product IDs - e.g., premium_monthly, not prod_001
2. Localize descriptions - Provide listings for all supported languages
3. Set up regional pricing - Don't use same price everywhere
4. Offer free trials - Increase conversion rates
5. Test thoroughly - Use test accounts and test product IDs
6. Monitor conversions - Track which products/offers perform best
7. Update prices carefully - Price changes affect existing subscribers

Billing Periods

• P1W - 1 week
• P1M - 1 month
• P3M - 3 months
• P6M - 6 months
• P1Y - 1 year