iOS Subscriptions are Hard

Subscriptions offer a lucrative revenue stream for developers, aligning better with customer needs and improving app quality, but Apple's StoreKit presents challenges in implementing them effectively. StoreKit's transactional nature complicates the management of recurring subscriptions, leading developers to choose between handling subscriptions on-device or server-side. On-device management involves complex tasks like receipt validation and handling unsolicited transactions, limiting insight into user behavior and complicating subscription status management across multiple devices. In contrast, server-side management, though more complex initially, allows for more comprehensive tracking and analysis of user transactions by using Apple's /verifyReceipt endpoint, providing a complete transaction history and enhancing customer service capabilities. This approach ensures developers have a reliable source of truth for subscription status, aiding in customer support and business insights. While server-side management requires significant setup, it offers a more robust solution for subscription management, enabling developers to build scalable and responsive subscription services.