Without in-app upgrades, QuillBot’s mobile users had to switch to the website, leading to drop-offs. Launching native Apple and Google payments streamlined upgrades, unlocking new revenue streams.
What was my role?
Product Designer, Strategist, and Usability Evaluator
Who did I work with?
Shubhashish Sinha (Product Manager)
What did I work on?
Product Design, Strategy, Assisted in User Research, Visual Design, Interactive Prototypes, and Usability Tests
What did I learn?
Design for Mobile Keyboards, Design a daily use product, Making mobile writing better
QuillBot's mobile apps launched without in-app subscription (IAP) support. Users had to go to the website to upgrade — a process full of friction, non-compliant with Apple's guidelines, and a major cause of lost conversions. Monetization on mobile was being held back by friction in the payment experience. Users faced multiple hurdles: re-entering details, lack of local payment methods. Even highly motivated users dropped off, leaving revenue on the table.
Support local currencies, diverse payment methods, and enable subscriptions directly in-app.
A native, seamless payment flow that feels safe and familiar.
Drive higher conversions from free to premium, unlocking mobile as a revenue channel.
Apple's 30% commission (reduced to 15% after one year per subscriber) and Google's 15% fee.
Needed price markup considerations for mobile to balance revenue without harming trust.
Compliance with store guidelines was non-negotiable; any misstep risked app removal.
Delivering in-app payments wasn't just a design exercise — it required aligning multiple teams and managing dependencies throughout the journey. As the designer, I kept these dependencies visible, facilitated alignment, and ensured that every decision — from flow to pricing presentation — respected both user experience and business constraints.
Integrated Apple/Google IAP SDKs with Chargebee, and ensured subscription states synced across web and mobile.
Accounted for Apple's 30% and Google's 15% commission, balancing pricing strategy with revenue goals.
Navigated App Store review guidelines and international compliance to prevent launch risks.
Coordinated launch campaigns and messaging to highlight the new seamless upgrade flow.
We mapped the end-to-end subscription journey across iOS and Android and designed for all possible states:
Premium CTAs on home and accounts screen, contextual nudges when hitting free limits.
Three-plan options (Annual, Semi-Annual, Monthly) with Annual pre-selected as default.
Native Apple/Google checkout, and synchronized subscription status across web, mobile, and desktop.
Clear messaging for pending, failed, or abandoned purchases, with retry and recovery flows.
Supported cancellation via app, web app, or CS team, with consistent updates to subscription state.
Accounted for renewals, restores on new devices, and refunds.
Designed a seamless in-app payment flow with one-tap checkout.
Integrated localized payment methods to match user expectations globally.
Reduced cognitive load by surfacing the right plan and payment method at the right time.
Bringing QuillBot's premium features to mobile required rethinking the upgrade process for on-the-go convenience. Our goal was to simplify in-app purchases, ensuring a seamless, secure experience on both Android and iOS. By optimizing the flow for mobile, we made it effortless for users to unlock advanced features like custom paraphrasing modes and grammar checking anytime, anywhere.
The implementation of in-app payments transformed QuillBot's mobile experience and business model. Users could now subscribe in <1 minute without leaving the app, leading to significant improvements in conversion rates and user satisfaction. The scalable IAP framework ensured platform compliance while building a robust foundation for future growth.
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Data in first 1 year
Designing in-app payments wasn't just about adding a checkout button. It required balancing user experience, business constraints, and platform compliance, while collaborating across engineering, legal, finance, and marketing. This project unlocked mobile as a revenue stream and built a scalable foundation for QuillBot's growth.
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