ZeroSettle is a drop-in direct billing SDK for mobile apps. It takes 15 minutes to set up and developers immediately start enjoying zero App Store fees, higher user retention, and instant payouts.
Hey PH! My co-founder and I left Apple to build ZeroSettle. $150B+ of in-app purchases still go through App Store/Google Play billing annually, even though direct billing is legal in the USA after the Epic v Apple ruling. This is primarily because existing solutions often hurt conversion when sending users to a Safari sign up sheet.
We built ZeroSettle from the ground up to avoid these conversion concerns. We take a different approach by providing flows that switch existing subscribers to direct billing from App Store billing. The results? Dramatically improved margins, higher retention, and instant payouts. ZeroSettle also handles the billing complexity, handing chargebacks and customer support for devs like Apple does today. And it costs just 5% + 50c, compared to Apple's 30%.
Really interesting that you both came from Apple to build this. For apps with a global user base, how do you handle the transition for users who move between the US and other regions where direct billing might not be legal yet? Do subscriptions seamlessly switch back to App Store billing in those cases? Congrats on the launch!
@gaberoeloffs Two questions: How does the switch flow actually work from the user's perspective? For example, if I am a subscriber paying through the App Store, what do I see, and how many steps does it take? The friction there seems like the make-or-break factor.
Secondly, how are you handling the Apple policy gray area? The Epic ruling opened the door legally, but Apple has been known to push back in creative ways. Are developers exposed to any risk of App Store retaliation, or does your setup keep things clearly within the ruling's boundaries?
The comparison of 5% + 50c versus 30% speaks for itself. For any app generating significant subscription revenue, the math is hard to ignore.
I always hear how chargebacks are incredibly annoying to deal with. It's really nice to see that you guys handle it on your end!
The fact that you're switching existing subscribers instead of trying to capture new ones through Safari is a smart workaround for the conversion drop. How are you seeing App Store review teams respond to apps that integrate this? Any issues getting updates approved?
The migration flow for existing subscribers is the part that caught my eye. Every other direct billing tool I've seen focuses on new signups, which means you're stuck running two systems indefinitely. Actually moving people off App Store billing is where the real margin recovery happens.
Genuinely curious how this handles subscription renewals when the App Store receipt validation inevitably fails - are you caching the billing state locally or do we need to implement our own grace period logic?
As an iOS developer myself, the 30% Apple tax is one of the biggest pain points. The fact that you both left Apple to build a solution for this is amazing. 15-minute setup time and zero fees sounds almost too good to be true. How are you handling compliance with Apple's latest guidelines around alternative payment methods?
Hi Gabe, the "left Apple to build this" line is your headline and it's sitting in a PH comment. Two ex-Apple engineers telling founders they can legally skip Apple's 30% fee. That's not a product launch man... That's a plot twist.
Right now the homepage opens with numbers and SDK features. Smart founders will read it. But the founder who's been silently paying Apple 30% for three years and feeling robbed..... they need to feel something first before they calculate anything.
The credibility of where you came from changes the entire trust equation. Congrats on the launch, @gaberoeloffs!
Sheesh, you got me good on this one. Really simple, yet very impactful. Can you reveal more about the structure behind the direct payments? Is that provided by ZeroSettle, or are you using some third-party provider to enable the payments (provider that the dev has to account for)? This might be a silly question, hopefully not, anyways good luck on your launch!
Hey, I liked your idea, so I am upvoting. But your website needs an upgrade as the items are not clear to understand (in terms of how are you delivering the value proposition). Especially the pricing page is very difficult to understand.
Is there a possibility of legal risk from Apple? Seems too good to be true!
Hey PH! My co-founder and I left Apple to build ZeroSettle. $150B+ of in-app purchases still go through App Store/Google Play billing annually, even though direct billing is legal in the USA after the Epic v Apple ruling. This is primarily because existing solutions often hurt conversion when sending users to a Safari sign up sheet.
We built ZeroSettle from the ground up to avoid these conversion concerns. We take a different approach by providing flows that switch existing subscribers to direct billing from App Store billing. The results? Dramatically improved margins, higher retention, and instant payouts. ZeroSettle also handles the billing complexity, handing chargebacks and customer support for devs like Apple does today. And it costs just 5% + 50c, compared to Apple's 30%.
Looking forward to hearing what y'all think!