Different IAP Types Need Different Commission Approaches
In-app purchases come in two fundamental types — consumable and non-consumable — and each requires a different approach to affiliate commissions. Getting this right ensures your affiliate program is both attractive to partners and sustainable for your business.
Consumable IAPs
Consumable purchases are used once and can be bought repeatedly: coins, gems, credits, extra lives, or virtual currency. A user might buy a $4.99 coin pack multiple times per month.
Commission considerations:
- Revenue per user is unpredictable — some users buy once, others buy weekly
- Individual transaction values are often small ($0.99 to $9.99)
- Total lifetime spending can be substantial for engaged users
Recommended commission structure: A percentage of each consumable purchase (10% to 20%) for a defined period after the affiliate referral. This rewards affiliates for bringing in users who spend, without creating unlimited commission obligations on users who become heavy spenders years later.
Alternatively, a one-time bounty triggered by the first consumable purchase works well if you want simplicity. Pay $2 to $5 when the referred user makes their first purchase, regardless of amount.
Non-Consumable IAPs
Non-consumable purchases are bought once and owned permanently: premium feature unlocks, ad removal, additional content packs, or pro upgrades. A user buys them once and keeps them forever.
Commission considerations:
- Revenue is a single transaction per feature
- Transaction values are typically higher ($2.99 to $49.99)
- No recurring revenue opportunity from the same purchase
Recommended commission structure: A percentage of the purchase price (15% to 25%) paid once when the transaction completes. Since there is no recurring element, the commission rate can be higher than what you would offer on subscriptions — the total payout is capped at a single payment.
For apps with multiple non-consumable unlocks, commission on all purchases within the attribution window gives affiliates credit for the full value they drove.
Tracking Differences
The technical tracking requirements differ between IAP types:
Consumables do not trigger App Store or Google Play server notifications automatically. Your app must report each consumable purchase to Insert Affiliate through the SDK or a server-side API call.
Non-consumables can be tracked through your purchase verification service. RevenueCat and Adapty handle non-consumable tracking alongside subscriptions.
Ensure your tracking pipeline handles both types before launching your affiliate program. Missing consumable tracking means affiliates are not credited for a potentially significant revenue stream.
Hybrid Apps
Many apps offer both consumable and non-consumable purchases alongside subscriptions. In these cases, set different commission rates for each type:
- Subscriptions: 20% recurring
- Non-consumable unlocks: 20% one-time
- Consumable purchases: 10% per purchase for 90 days
Insert Affiliate can track all three purchase types and apply different commission rules to each, giving you a unified affiliate program that accurately reflects your monetisation model.