IAP-to-Web Migration
If you have subscribers who signed up through the Apple App Store or Google Play, they're currently billed through those app stores. While that works, it comes with some limitations for both you and your members.
Switching those subscribers to web billing unlocks a much better experience on both sides. As a creator, you gain full control over the subscriber relationship.
ℹ️ INFO: This is a creator-initiated process. You'll need to send your app subscribers a special checkout link to get them started. There's no toggle or setting to enable, as it works through a URL parameter.
For your members, it means they become eligible for features that simply aren't available on app store billing:
Marketing tools: Abandoned Cart, Reduce Churn, Try Again for Free, Referral Programs, and more
Automations: trigger email sequences based on subscription events
Coupons and Promotions: apply discounts directly at checkout or through your campaigns
Subscription Pausing: give members a pause option instead of canceling
Admin Actions: manually adjust billing dates, issue refunds, change plans, and more from the People page
💡 TIP: As an added benefit, you also avoid the 15–30% commission that Apple and Google take on every in-app payment.
Requirements
Before getting started, make sure the following are in place:
You have at least one public web subscription plan set up
Your subscribers already have a Uscreen account (created before or when they first subscribed via the app store)
You have a connected payment provider (Stripe or PayPal)
You know the Offer ID of the web subscription plan you want them to switch to
📝 NOTE: Your app subscribers will log in using their existing credentials, and won't need to create a new account to complete the switch.
How It Works
Step 1: Build Your Migration Link
Construct a checkout link using the following format:
Optionally, you can include a coupon code as an incentive for subscribers to make the switch:
💡 TIP: Adding a coupon, like a discounted first month, can make the switch more appealing for subscribers who are used to the convenience of app store billing. Reach out to our support team if you need help finding your Offer ID.
🔗 Learn more about the Offer ID
Step 2: Send the Link to Your App Subscribers
Share the link with your in-app subscribers, typically via an email campaign. Let them know why you're making the switch and what's in it for them (lower friction, more payment options, access to promotions, etc.).
📝 NOTE: This flow is intended for subscribers who already have an active Apple or Google subscription. Subscribers who don't have an existing in-app subscription will still be able to complete checkout normally, but they won't see the migration-specific messaging.
Step 3: Subscriber Completes Web Checkout
When a subscriber clicks the link, they'll land on checkout with a "Switch to web" banner and an updated call-to-action.
They log in with their existing Uscreen credentials and complete the purchase through your web checkout.
During this transition, both their app store subscription and their new web subscription will be active at the same time.
This is expected, as the system is designed to support one active OTT subscription and one active web subscription simultaneously.
ℹ️ INFO: Uscreen cannot cancel the app store subscription on behalf of your subscriber. Only the subscriber can do that, through their Apple or Google account settings.
🔗 Learn more about Canceling In-App Subscriptions
Step 4: Subscriber Cancels Their App Store Subscription
Right after completing the web checkout, the subscriber will see a post-purchase guidance screen, not a quick redirect, with clear, platform-specific instructions to cancel their Apple or Google subscription so they aren't double-billed.
ℹ️ INFO: This screen stays put until the subscriber takes action, and the usual 10-second auto-redirect is suppressed so they don't accidentally skip it.
iOS subscribers: step-by-step instructions with a direct link to Apple's subscription settings
Android subscribers: step-by-step instructions with a direct link to Google Play's subscription management
⚠️ WARNING: This step is critical. If a subscriber completes the web checkout but skips canceling their app store subscription, they will be billed by both their web payment provider and the app store until they cancel. Make sure to communicate this clearly when sending your migration link, so the sooner they cancel, the better.
A reminder email is also automatically sent after the web purchase if they still have an active app store subscription, prompting them to complete the cancellation.
📝 NOTE: The guide screen is suppressed on refresh, so it only appears once after checkout, and the subscriber won't see it again if they reload the page.
What You'll See in the Admin Area
While a subscriber is mid-transition, their web subscription is active, but they haven't yet cancelled their app store subscription. Here's what you'll see:
Their Activity Status on the People page will show "Migrating from App"
Both subscriptions and their associated invoices will be visible on their member profile
On the member's storefront dashboard, a blue "Cancel app plan" banner will appear as a reminder to complete the cancellation
Once they cancel their app store subscription, the "Migrating from App" status resolves, and their profile will reflect only the active web subscription.
🔗 Learn more about Activity Statuses
📝 NOTE: If a subscriber completes the web checkout but never cancels their app store subscription, they will continue to be billed by both. This is why the post-checkout guidance screen and reminder email are so important, so make sure to communicate this clearly when sending your migration link.
FAQs
Will my subscriber lose access during the switch?
Will my subscriber lose access during the switch?
No. Both subscriptions are active at the same time during the transition, so there's no gap in access.
What if a subscriber clicks the link but doesn't have an active app store subscription?
What if a subscriber clicks the link but doesn't have an active app store subscription?
The iap_migration=true parameter will simply be ignored, and they'll go through the standard checkout flow without any migration-specific messaging.
Can I include a coupon to encourage the switch?
Can I include a coupon to encourage the switch?
Yes, add &coupon=[coupon_code] to the end of the migration link. The subscriber will see the discounted pricing and any applicable savings badges at checkout.
Can Uscreen cancel the app store subscription for my subscriber?
Can Uscreen cancel the app store subscription for my subscriber?
No. App store subscriptions can only be cancelled by the subscriber themselves, through their Apple or Google account settings. Uscreen cannot do this on their behalf.
What if a subscriber ends up being charged by both the app store and Uscreen?
What if a subscriber ends up being charged by both the app store and Uscreen?
If a subscriber doesn't cancel their app store subscription after completing web checkout, they will be billed by both. You can refund the web charge from your Uscreen dashboard, but refunds for app store charges must be requested by the subscriber directly from Apple or Google.
Is this the same as Mobile External Purchases?
Is this the same as Mobile External Purchases?
No, these are two different features. Mobile External Purchases redirects new purchases made inside your app to a web checkout, bypassing the app store for new subscribers. The IAP-to-web migration flow is for moving existing app store subscribers to a web subscription. Both result in subscribers being billed through Stripe or PayPal instead of the app store, but they serve different scenarios.