Stack
RevenueCat
Subscription infrastructure for mobile apps: one SDK that wraps App Store, Play Store, and web billing with receipt validation and paywall tooling.
What it actually does
RevenueCat is not a payment processor. It is an SDK that abstracts Apple's App Store, Google Play, and web billing into one layer, handling server-side receipt validation, entitlements, and subscription state across platforms.
It adds a no-code paywall builder, A/B testing, and subscription analytics, so a founder can iterate pricing without shipping a new app-store build. The free tier includes those features up to $2,500 in monthly tracked revenue.
Above that threshold it charges 1% of all tracked revenue, which sits on top of Apple or Google's 15 to 30% cut, or on top of Stripe fees on web. It is the tool you reach for the moment you ship a mobile app with subscriptions, and skip entirely for web-only products.
RevenueCat vs its main rivals
The tools people actually weigh against RevenueCat: Adapty, Superwall, Qonversion, StoreKit 2. Same criteria for every column, including where RevenueCat loses.
| RevenueCat | AAdapty | SSuperwall | QQonversion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pricing & access | ||||
| Free tier | YesFree to $2,500 MTR | YesFree to $5,000 MTR | YesFree tier | YesFree tier |
| Starting price | 1% of MTR | Free to $5k, then % | $49/mo | Free / usage |
Platform | ||||
| iOS SDK | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes |
| Android SDK | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes |
| Web billing | YesYes | YesYes | NoNo | YesYes |
Paywalls & experiments | ||||
| Paywall builder | YesYes | YesNative | YesAdvanced | YesYes |
| Paywall A/B testing | YesYes | YesAdvanced | YesAdvanced | YesYes |
Developer & API | ||||
| REST API | Free | Free | Paid | Free |
| Webhooks | Free | Free | Free | Free |
Scaling & pricing | ||||
| Free MTR threshold | $2,500 | $5,000 | Paywall rev only | Varies |
| Charges only on influenced rev | NoAll MTR | NoAll MTR | YesPaywall only | NoAll MTR |
- One SDK spans App Store, Play Store, and web billing with cross-platform receipt validation
- Free until $2,500 MTR with paywalls, A/B testing, and analytics all included
- Paywall builder and experiments let you iterate pricing without app-store release cycles
- It is infrastructure, not a processor: the 1% is on top of Apple/Google's 15 to 30% or Stripe fees
- 1% of tracked revenue scales linearly with no cap on standard pricing, and migrating state off later is painful
- Adapty offers a higher $5,000 free MTR threshold, and Superwall only charges on paywall-influenced revenue
Pay less for it
4 ways foundThe free tier includes paywalls, A/B testing, and analytics, not a crippled trial
Above roughly $100k MTR the 1% is negotiable through custom Enterprise deals
Because you pay 1% of tracked revenue, routing only the subscriptions you must measure through the SDK limits the base
Adapty — RevenueCat-compatible SDK with a higher $5,000 free MTR threshold before paid pricing kicks in
StackTracker tracks what you actually pay for RevenueCat and every other tool, flags overpayment, and shows the dollars you would save by switching.
Is it the right tool for you
- You ship an iOS or Android app with in-app subscriptions
- You want cross-platform receipt validation and entitlements from one SDK
- You want to A/B test paywalls without app-store release cycles
- You sell a web-only product with no mobile app → use Stripe or a merchant of record
- You mainly need paywall testing and want to pay only on influenced revenue → use Superwall
Track what RevenueCat and the rest of your stack cost
StackTracker adds up every subscription, plus your hours, so you see the real number.
Prices and limits last verified 2026-07-20.