In-App purchases & app subscriptions vs E-commerce, merch & print on demand (2026): Which Monetization Method Pays Better?
Both are products & services. Here is how In-App purchases & app subscriptions and E-commerce, merch & print on demand compare on what they pay, the traffic they need, effort and the properties they suit, and when to pick each.
In-App Purchases & App Subscriptions
Sell upgrades, consumables and subscriptions inside an iOS or Android app through the store's billing, at a 15-30% store cut.
8.0 /10
Earns: $20-150 per 1,000 monthly users; 2-5% of users pay
Pros
- The store handles payment, tax, refunds and renewals in 170 countries
- Subscriptions renew automatically; a good app keeps 40-60% of subscribers past year one
- Pairs with ads: sell the ad-free tier to the users who hate ads
Cons
- Apple and Google take 30% (15% under $1M a year and for renewals after year one)
- Store review, policy changes and refund abuse are outside your control
- Most users never pay; the free experience must be good on its own
E-commerce, Merch & Print on Demand
Sell physical products to your audience: branded merch through print on demand, curated goods, or your own line.
6.9 /10
Earns: $5-60 per 1,000 visitors; 20-40% margin on print on demand
Pros
- Print on demand (Printful, Printify, Gelato) needs no inventory, no shipping and no upfront cost
- Merch turns fans into walking advertisements and fandom into revenue
- A store platform (Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy) is a weekend to set up
Cons
- Margins are thin: a $25 print-on-demand shirt nets $5-10
- Customer service, returns, sizing and shipping problems land on you
- Physical products convert far below digital ones unless the audience is devoted
In-App purchases & app subscriptions vs E-commerce, merch & print on demand at a glance
| In-App purchases & app subscriptions | E-commerce, merch & print on demand | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 8.0 / 10 | 6.9 / 10 |
| Typical earnings | $20-150 per 1,000 monthly users; 2-5% of users pay | $5-60 per 1,000 visitors; 20-40% margin on print on demand |
| Per 1,000 visitors (US, general) | $20-150 | $5-60 |
| Traffic needed | 1k/mo | 5k/mo |
| Cost to start | $100-500 (developer accounts, tools) | $0-100/mo |
| First payout | 1-3 months | 1-2 months |
| Difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Effort | Semi-passive | Semi-passive |
| Family | Products & services | Products & services |
| Blog / content site | No | Yes |
| Newsletter / email list | No | No |
| YouTube / video channel | No | Yes |
| Podcast | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | No |
| SaaS / web app | No | No |
| Community / forum | No | Yes |
| Social account | No | Yes |
| Online store | No | Yes |
| Directory / listing site | No | No |
| Free tool / utility | No | No |
| Ad & affiliate networks in this directory | 9 | 0 |
| Platforms & tools in this directory | 8 | 25 |
| Marketplaces & brokers in this directory | 4 | 1 |
| Reader upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Best for | in-app purchase, app subscription, revenuecat | merch, print on demand, shopify |
Our pick
In-App purchases & app subscriptions edges it with a score of 8.0 versus 6.9. In-App purchases & app subscriptions is the better fit if you value: the store handles payment, tax, refunds and renewals in 170 countries, subscriptions renew automatically; a good app keeps 40-60% of subscribers past year one. Choose E-commerce, merch & print on demand instead if you need: print on demand (printful, printify, gelato) needs no inventory, no shipping and no upfront cost, merch turns fans into walking advertisements and fandom into revenue. Most properties run both: see the planner.
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Full ranking →
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