E

What is Eligibility criteria?

Definition, examples, and more

Definition

The rules — often enforced by Apple or Google — that determine whether a user qualifies for specific offers such as introductory pricing or free trials. These are typically based on the user’s subscription history within a subscription group or platform account.

Example

A meditation app offers a 7-day free trial, but Apple restricts this to one trial per subscription group per Apple ID. When a user who previously trialed and canceled tries to return, they are not eligible for the free trial again. The app checks eligibility via Botsi and instead shows a promotional offer: ‘50% off your first month — welcome back.’

Why Eligibility criteria Matters

Misunderstanding eligibility rules leads to broken user experiences and lost revenue. A fitness app showed ‘Start Your Free Trial’ to all users, including those who had already used their trial. Ineligible users tapped the button, got charged immediately, then requested refunds and left angry 1-star reviews. After implementing proper eligibility checks with Botsi, refund rates dropped 60% and the app’s rating recovered from 3.8 to 4.5 stars.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if a user is eligible for an introductory offer on iOS?

Use StoreKit’s isEligibleForIntroOffer property or check eligibility through Botsi’s SDK, which handles the complexity for you. The check verifies whether the user’s Apple ID has previously redeemed an intro offer within the same subscription group. Always check before displaying trial or intro pricing to avoid misleading users.

Can a user get a free trial twice on the same app?

On iOS, introductory offers (including free trials) are limited to one per subscription group per Apple ID. On Google Play, trials are also limited to one per subscription per Google Account. However, you can use promotional offers for returning users to give them a discounted re-entry point.

What happens if I show a trial offer to an ineligible user?

If the user taps subscribe, they will be charged the full price immediately instead of getting the trial. This creates a terrible user experience, leads to refund requests, and generates negative reviews. Always check eligibility before rendering your paywall and customize the offer display accordingly.

Category
Subscription App Terminology
Related Area
Mobile App Growth & Monetization

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