Introduction

What is In App Purchase

Advantages of In App Purchases

Disadvantages of In App Purchases

What is Apple Pay

Advantages of Apple Pay

Disadvantages of Apple Pay

Introduction

In the world of digital transactions, it's important to understand the difference between two commonly used terms: In-App Purchase and Apple Pay. While both serve the purpose of facilitating payments within the iOS apps, they have distinct functionalities and advantages.  Understanding these differences can help you choose the most suitable payment method for your app.

What is In App Purchase

 In-app purchases are extra content or subscriptions that you can buy in apps on your iOS devices. Apple Pay or any 3rd party payment gateways can be used to sell physical goods such as groceries, clothing, and appliances. You are required to use Apple’s In-App Purchase to sell virtual goods such as premium content for your app and subscriptions for digital content. Specifically, Apple’s developer terms require that the In-App Purchase must be used for digital “content, functionality, or services” such as premium features or credits. When your users register or buy any content through Apple’s In-App Purchase, Apple will deduct 30% of the payment made by your users and will give you the rest 70%.

Advantages of In App Purchases

• Easy integration: in-app purchase integration, developer-friendly API, streamlined purchasing process
• Seamless user experience: one-click payments, no need for additional sign-ins or payment information input
• Increase revenue potential: targeted upselling opportunities, in-app subscriptions, app monetization strategies
• Data tracking and analytics: purchasing behavior insights, user engagement metrics for personalized offers
• Built-in security measures: fraud protection mechanisms, secure payment processing infrastructure

Disadvantages of In App Purchases

• Platform dependency: In-app purchases are specific to the platform (e.g., iOS or Android) on which they are made.
• Revenue sharing: App stores typically charge a percentage fee on each transaction made through In-App Purchases.

What is Apple Pay

Apple Pay is a digital wallet service developed by Apple that allows users to make secure payments both in-store and online. It allows users to make payments using their iOS devices such as iPhone or Apple Watch in physical stores or online platforms. 

It uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for contactless payments in physical stores and offers a convenient way for users to make purchases without having to manually enter their payment details each time.

Advantages of Apple Pay

• Security: Apple Pay uses tokenization technology that ensures secure transactions by replacing actual card details with unique tokens. 
• Convenience: Users can quickly make payments by simply authenticating with Touch ID or Face ID. 
• Wide acceptance: Apple Pay is accepted at numerous online retailers and physical stores globally.

Disadvantages of Apple Pay

• Limited availability: Apple Pay is only available on Apple devices, limiting its accessibility to users who do not own Apple products.
• Dependency on NFC: In-store payments through Apple Pay require NFC-enabled payment terminals, which may not be available everywhere.