$ cat prompt.txt — App Development

App Monetization Strategy — Paywall, Pricing & IAP Design

Design the monetization for a mobile app: model, paywall placement, pricing tiers, and the upgrade triggers.

30–45 min advanced Claude Opus, GPT-5#app-monetization#iap#subscriptions

intro.md

Most indie apps leave 80% of revenue on the table with a bad monetization model — wrong paywall placement, wrong pricing, or a subscription on an app people open twice a year. This prompt designs the right model for your app type, places the paywall where it converts, and sets pricing tiers + the moments that trigger upgrades.

$ cat prompt.txt | pbcopy

The prompt — copy & paste

prompt.txt

You are an app-monetization strategist who's optimized paywalls for apps doing $1M+ ARR. Design the monetization for my app.

INPUTS:
- App type / category: {{app_type}}
- Core value (the one thing users would pay for): {{core_value}}
- Target user (and how often they realistically open the app): {{target_user}}
- Platform: {{platform}}

PRODUCE:

1. MODEL RECOMMENDATION
Pick the right model and justify it against usage frequency:
- SUBSCRIPTION — only for apps opened 4+×/week (habit/productivity/fitness/content)
- ONE-TIME IAP / unlock — utility/gaming apps with clear free-vs-paid feature gates
- PAID UPFRONT — only with built-in audience/trust
- FREEMIUM — default for most consumer apps
- ADS — only at 50k+ DAU; don't pick for an indie launch
State clearly why the chosen model fits the open-frequency of {{target_user}}.

2. FREE vs PAID LINE
Exactly what's free (enough to get value + form a habit) vs what's paid (the thing worth paying for). The free tier must create the "I need more" moment, not frustrate.

3. PAYWALL DESIGN
- WHERE it appears (onboarding / after first value moment / at a feature gate / soft vs hard)
- WHAT it shows (the value framing, the tiers, the CTA copy)
- The "aha → paywall" timing: trigger it right after the user feels the value, not before
- Free trial? length? (7-day is standard for subscriptions)

4. PRICING TIERS
- Recommended prices (monthly + annual; annual should be ~40-50% off monthly to push it)
- A "decoy"/anchor tier if useful
- Platform note: account for Apple/Google's 15-30% cut in your pricing
- Localized pricing note (don't charge US prices in India/SEA/LATAM)

5. UPGRADE TRIGGERS
The 3-4 specific in-app moments to surface the upgrade prompt (hitting a limit, completing a win, a "you could've saved X" moment).

6. RETENTION→REVENUE
The 2 retention mechanics this app type needs so users stick long enough to convert (notifications, streaks, content freshness…).

Be honest: if {{app_type}} + {{target_user}} open-frequency doesn't support a subscription, say so and recommend the model that fits.

$ variables_to_fill_in

$ man playbook

Step-by-step playbook

How to actually use this prompt for the best results.

01
Match the model to open-frequency first
The #1 monetization mistake is a subscription on an app people open monthly. Be honest about how often {{target_user}} actually opens the app — the prompt picks the model that fits that reality.
02
Place the paywall after the first value moment
Don't paywall before the user feels value (kills conversion + reviews) or too late (leaves money on the table). The 'aha → paywall' timing in Stage 3 is the highest-leverage decision — implement it precisely.
03
Price annual aggressively vs monthly
Annual at ~40-50% off the monthly equivalent pushes users to commit (and improves your cash flow + retention). Surface annual as the default/highlighted tier.
04
Instrument the upgrade triggers as events
The 3-4 upgrade-trigger moments should fire a paywall programmatically (hit a limit, completed a win). Wire them as analytics events too, so you can see which trigger converts best and double down.

$ man tips

Pro tips for better output

›Annual plans + free trials are the backbone of profitable subscription apps — monthly-only leaves most LTV uncaptured.
›Use a paywall tool (RevenueCat, Superwall) to A/B test paywall copy and placement without app updates — the paywall is your highest-ROI A/B test surface.
›Account for the 15-30% platform cut in your pricing from day one (Apple/Google take it off the top) — and Apple's Small Business Program drops it to 15% under $1M/yr.

$ echo $YIELD

What you'll get

output.md

A monetization model recommendation justified against usage, a free-vs-paid line, a full paywall design (placement + copy + timing), pricing tiers, upgrade triggers, and the retention mechanics needed to convert.

$ man faq

FAQ

Subscription or one-time purchase for my app?

Subscription only if users open the app 4+ times a week (habit/content/productivity) — recurring value justifies recurring payment. One-time unlock for utilities and games where the value is delivered once. The prompt matches the model to your app's real open-frequency.

Where should the paywall appear?

Right after the user experiences the core value for the first time (the 'aha moment') — not during onboarding before they understand the app, and not so late they've already gotten everything free. That timing is the single biggest conversion lever.

$ ls /prompts/app-development