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Subscription Pricing Options

A subscription can be configured in Seller Portal to offer the following pricing options:

1. Regular or regular-tier (required)
2. Lower-tier or introductory (optional)
3. Free trial (optional)

A subscription must have the regular option configured. Optionally, the subscription may also offer an introductory (reduced price) subscription, a free trial, or both. By configuring one or more of these options, a subscription could have a different initial purchase price, renewal price, and repurchase price.

You can have multiple in-app items using the same content, but with different prices and/or subscription periods for promotions or other purposes. For example, you may offer content for a limited time (for example, a month) at an introductory price that includes a reduced price subscription for a year. After the month has expired, you can offer the same content but at the regular subscription price.

After your app is published in Galaxy Store, the Seller Portal settings for the app’s subscription items (such as price and subscription period) cannot be changed. However, you can delete the subscription item and register a new one with the desired settings. When a subscription item is deleted, the subscription is automatically canceled for existing subscribers.

Regular or regular-tier subscription

A regular subscription is a subscription that charges a set price for each subscription period. The price and subscription period do not change. If you are adding an in-app item type that is a subscription, you must configure the regular subscription information when adding the item in Seller Portal. A subscription:

• Is billed at the start of each subscription period
• For India customers only, is automatically cancelled at the end of the subscription period unless the customer consents to renew the subscription
• For all customers except those in India, is automatically renewed at the end of a subscription period, until the app user cancels their subscription
• Can be canceled at any time

Subscription period (payment cycle)

A subscription period, called the payment cycle in Seller Portal, is the amount of time your app user can use this item before it must be renewed. A subscription period:

• Can be weekly, monthly, every 3 months, every 6 months, or yearly (it also sets the subscription period for the lower-tier subscription, if configured)
• Renews on the same day of the week, month, or year as the day of purchase

Availability period

The availability period is how long the subscription item is accessible for purchase. The availability period:

• Is optional (if no dates are specified, this item is available for purchase until it is deleted)
• Allows you to offer an item for a fixed period of time (for example, a limited promotion) and allows you to offer special promotional prices

A subscription item purchased during the availability period is automatically renewed and billed like any other subscription item. It can be used by the customer until they cancel their subscription, even if the item is no longer available for purchase. If the customer cancels their subscription and the availability period has passed, the customer cannot repurchase this item.

Lower-Tier or introductory subscription

A lower-tier subscription is a subscription that charges an introductory price for a limited amount of time. A lower-tier subscription is a defined number of subscription periods that the user can purchase the in-app item at a reduced price (the subscription period used is the subscription period configured for a regular subscription). Only one lower-tier subscription can be configured for an in-app item. A lower-tier subscription:

• Is optional (you do not have to provide a lower-tier subscription with your regular subscription)
• Can last from 1 to 100 subscription periods (the subscription period is the same as the regular subscription period)
• Must have a price that is lower than the regular subscription price
• Renews on the same day of the week, month, or year as the day of purchase
• Is billed at the start of each period
• For India customers only, is automatically cancelled at the end of the subscription period unless the customer consents to renew the subscription
• For all customers except those in India, is automatically renewed at the end of a subscription period, until the lower-tier subscription ends or the app user cancels their subscription (when the lower-tier subscription ends, the subscription is automatically renewed at the regular subscription price)
• Can be canceled at any time

If a user cancels their subscription during the lower-tier subscription and then repurchases the subscription, the lower-tier subscription is no longer available. That is, the user cannot restart the lower-tier subscription if the subscription is canceled.

Free trial period

A free trial is a set period of time that the user can use the in-app item for free. Only one free trial period can be configured for an in-app item. A free trial period:

• Is optional (you do not have to provide a free trial period with your regular subscription)
• Can last from 7 to 999 days
• Does not bill the user for this item during this time period
• Can be canceled at any time

For India customers only, when the free trial period ends, the subscription is automatically cancelled unless the customer consents to renew the subscription. Customers in India must manually resubscribe after a cancellation and do not receive any lower-tier or free trial benefits when they resubscribe.

For all customers except those in India, when the free trial period ends, either the lower-tier subscription (if configured) or regular subscription automatically begins. That is, when the free trial period ends, the user is automatically billed the subscription price for the item.

If a user cancels their subscription during the free trial period and then repurchases the subscription, the free trial period is no longer available. That is, the user cannot restart the free trial period if the subscription is canceled.

Promotions determined by pricing options

Using the Samsung IAP SDK, you can optimize your UI configuration by offering each customer promotions for which they are eligible when they are making a purchase. Customers can also check for available promotions before payment, thereby encouraging them to make a purchase.

For example, you can offer a free trial to new subscribers for a limited time period. After the free trial is over, you can provide them with introductory prices for another limited time period. Users who have received promotional benefits can continue their subscription at the regular price afterwards.

To determine the pricing option of the customer, use the following API calls:

See Get in-app item details and Get promotion eligibility for subscription for more information.

Cancellation

At any time after a subscription is purchased, an app user can cancel their subscription in Galaxy Store by navigating to My apps > Receipts > Items tab, selecting the purchased item, and clicking Unsubscribe.