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App Pricing Models

LaunchMyStore supports multiple pricing models for your app. Choose the model that best fits your value proposition and customer expectations.

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Available Models

Free

No charge. Good for lead generation or basic utility apps.

One-Time

Single payment for lifetime access. Good for tools and templates.

Recurring

Monthly or annual subscription. Most common for feature-rich apps.

Usage-Based

Pay per use (API calls, orders, etc.). Good for volume-dependent apps.

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Free Apps

Free apps don’t charge merchants but can still generate value: 
{
  "pricing": {
    "model": "free"
  }
}
Use cases:
  • Lead generation for your other products
  • Simple utilities that build goodwill
  • Apps funded by other revenue (affiliate, data)
  • Open source projects
Free apps are great for building reputation in the marketplace. Many developers start free and add paid tiers later.

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One-Time Purchase

Single payment for permanent access: 
{
  "pricing": {
    "model": "one_time",
    "price": 4900,  // $49.00 USD
    "currency": "USD"
  }
}
Use cases:
  • Theme modifications
  • One-time setup tools
  • Templates and presets
  • Migration utilities
Considerations:
  • No recurring revenue
  • Customer expects lifetime updates
  • Lower total revenue per customer
  • No ongoing relationship

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Recurring Subscription

Monthly or annual billing, the most common model: 
{
  "pricing": {
    "model": "recurring",
    "plans": [
      {
        "id": "basic",
        "name": "Basic",
        "price": 999,      // $9.99/month
        "interval": "month",
        "features": [
          "Up to 100 orders/month",
          "Basic reports",
          "Email support"
        ]
      },
      {
        "id": "pro",
        "name": "Pro",
        "price": 2999,     // $29.99/month
        "interval": "month",
        "features": [
          "Unlimited orders",
          "Advanced analytics",
          "Priority support",
          "Custom branding"
        ]
      },
      {
        "id": "enterprise",
        "name": "Enterprise",
        "price": 9999,     // $99.99/month
        "interval": "month",
        "features": [
          "Everything in Pro",
          "Dedicated account manager",
          "SLA guarantee",
          "Custom integrations"
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

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Annual Billing

Offer discounts for annual commitment: 
{
  "pricing": {
    "model": "recurring",
    "plans": [
      {
        "id": "pro_monthly",
        "name": "Pro Monthly",
        "price": 2999,
        "interval": "month"
      },
      {
        "id": "pro_annual",
        "name": "Pro Annual",
        "price": 29990,    // $299.90/year (2 months free)
        "interval": "year",
        "savings": "Save 17%"
      }
    ]
  }
}

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Free Trial

Let merchants try before buying: 
{
  "pricing": {
    "model": "recurring",
    "trial": {
      "days": 14,
      "requirePaymentMethod": false
    },
    "plans": [
      {
        "id": "pro",
        "name": "Pro",
        "price": 2999,
        "interval": "month"
      }
    ]
  }
}
Trial options:
OptionDescription
daysTrial duration (7, 14, or 30 days)
requirePaymentMethodRequire card upfront (reduces cancellations)

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Usage-Based Pricing

Charge per real-world event — per SMS sent, per AI generation, per shipping label printed. Declared as a usage block on a recurring plan (LaunchMyStore does not have a standalone usage_based model — metered always rides on top of a Stripe subscription, even if the flat monthly price is 0): 
{
  "pricing": {
    "model": "recurring",
    "monthlyPrice": 0,
    "currency": "usd",
    "trialDays": 0,
    "usage": {
      "unitName": "SMS",
      "unitAmount": 0.05,
      "cappedAmount": 50,
      "terms": "$0.05 per SMS sent, billed monthly"
    }
  }
}
Cap enforcement (cappedAmount = $50 default monthly limit), idempotent event reporting, and end-of-period invoice handling are wired into the platform. See Usage-Based Billing for the full event → invoice flow and Usage Records API for endpoint references.

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Hybrid Models

Combine models for flexibility:

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Freemium

Free tier with paid upgrades: 
{
  "pricing": {
    "model": "recurring",
    "plans": [
      {
        "id": "free",
        "name": "Free",
        "price": 0,
        "interval": "month",
        "features": [
          "Up to 50 orders/month",
          "Basic features"
        ],
        "limits": {
          "orders": 50
        }
      },
      {
        "id": "pro",
        "name": "Pro",
        "price": 1999,
        "interval": "month",
        "features": [
          "Unlimited orders",
          "All features"
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

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Base + Usage

Flat monthly subscription plus a per-event metered component — this is the most common shape. Both items appear on one Stripe subscription; the merchant sees a combined invoice each period. 
{
  "pricing": {
    "model": "recurring",
    "monthlyPrice": 9.99,
    "currency": "usd",
    "trialDays": 14,
    "usage": {
      "unitName": "SMS",
      "unitAmount": 0.02,
      "cappedAmount": 50
    }
  }
}
Each POST /api/v1/billing/usage call adds one UsageRecord to the Stripe metered item; at period end Stripe sums the records, multiplies by unitAmount, and bills monthlyPrice + total_usage.

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Pricing Best Practices

Show a premium tier even if most customers choose the middle option. It makes the mid-tier feel like a good value.
If offering freemium, make sure the free tier has meaningful limits that encourage upgrades as the merchant grows.
15-20% annual discount reduces churn and improves cash flow. Frame it as “2 months free.”
2-3 tiers is ideal. More than 4 creates decision paralysis.
Price based on the value you create, not your costs. A 50/monthappthatsaves50/month app that saves 500/month is a good deal.
A/B test pricing pages. Small changes can significantly impact conversion.

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Displaying Pricing

Use the pricing display components in your app listing: 
import { PricingTable } from '@launchmystore/app-store-components';

function AppListing() {
  return (
    <PricingTable
      plans={[
        {
          name: 'Basic',
          price: '$9.99/mo',
          features: ['Feature 1', 'Feature 2'],
          cta: 'Start Free Trial'
        },
        {
          name: 'Pro',
          price: '$29.99/mo',
          features: ['All Basic features', 'Feature 3', 'Feature 4'],
          cta: 'Start Free Trial',
          popular: true
        }
      ]}
    />
  );
}

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Price Changes

When changing prices for existing customers:
  1. Grandfather existing customers - Keep them on old pricing
  2. Give notice - 30 days minimum for price increases
  3. Explain value - Communicate what’s improved
// Check if customer is on legacy pricing
async function getEffectivePrice(shopId) {
  const subscription = await getSubscription(shopId);
  
  if (subscription.legacyPlan) {
    return subscription.legacyPlan.price;
  }
  
  return currentPricing[subscription.planId].price;
}

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Currency Support

LaunchMyStore supports multiple currencies: 
{
  "pricing": {
    "model": "recurring",
    "defaultCurrency": "USD",
    "plans": [
      {
        "id": "pro",
        "name": "Pro",
        "prices": {
          "USD": 2999,
          "EUR": 2799,
          "GBP": 2499,
          "INR": 199900
        },
        "interval": "month"
      }
    ]
  }
}
Merchants see prices in their local currency when available.

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Revenue Share

LaunchMyStore takes a percentage of app revenue:
App TypeRevenue Share
Public apps20%
First-party apps0%
Private apps0%
Revenue share is calculated on gross revenue before refunds.

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See Also