Appendix B: App Store & Play Store Setup

Step-by-step guide to setting up your developer accounts and configuring your apps.

Apple Developer Account

1. Create Account

1. Go to developer.apple.com
2. Click "Account" → "Create Apple ID" (if needed)
3. Enroll in Apple Developer Program ($99/year)
4. Wait for approval (usually 24-48 hours)

2. Create App ID

1. Go to Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles
2. Click "+" to add new identifier
3. Select "App IDs" → Continue
4. Select "App" → Continue
5. Fill in:
   • Description: Your App Name
   • Bundle ID: com.yourcompany.yourapp (must match app.json)
6. Enable capabilities you need:
   • Push Notifications
   • Sign in with Apple
   • Associated Domains (for deep links)
7. Click "Continue" → "Register"

3. Create App in App Store Connect

1. Go to App Store Connect
2. Click "My Apps" → "+" → "New App"
3. Fill in:
   • Platform: iOS
   • Name: Your App Name (30 chars max)
   • Primary Language: English (or your language)
   • Bundle ID: Select the one you created
   • SKU: A unique ID (e.g., yourapp-ios-001)
   • User Access: Full Access
4. Click "Create"

4. Configure App Information

In App Store Connect → Your App:

App Information:

• Subtitle (30 chars)
• Category (Primary & Secondary)
• Content Rights
• Age Rating (complete questionnaire)

Pricing and Availability:

• Price: Free or select price tier
• Availability: Select countries

App Privacy:

• Privacy Policy URL (required)
• Complete Data Collection survey

Google Play Developer Account

1. Create Account

1. Go to play.google.com/console
2. Sign in with Google Account
3. Pay registration fee ($25 one-time)
4. Complete account details
5. Verify identity (may take 48 hours)

2. Create App

1. Click "Create app"
2. Fill in:
   • App name
   • Default language
   • App or Game
   • Free or Paid
3. Accept declarations
4. Click "Create app"

3. Set Up Store Listing

Main store listing:

• Short description (80 chars)
• Full description (4000 chars)
• App icon (512x512)
• Feature graphic (1024x500)
• Screenshots

Store settings:

• App category
• Contact details
• External marketing

4. Complete Required Sections

Before you can release:

App content:

• Privacy policy URL
• Ads declaration
• App access (demo credentials if login required)
• Content rating (complete questionnaire)
• Target audience
• News apps declaration
• COVID-19 apps declaration
• Data safety

Setting Up In-App Purchases

iOS: ASC CLI (Recommended)

Use the asc CLI to create subscriptions programmatically. This is faster and more repeatable than the App Store Connect web UI.

asc subscriptions setup \
  --app APP_ID \
  --group-reference-name "App Premium" \
  --reference-name "Weekly" \
  --product-id "com.silpho.yourapp.ios.weekly" \
  --subscription-period ONE_WEEK \
  --locale "en-US" \
  --display-name "Weekly Plan" \
  --description "Unlimited Access To All Features" \
  --price "7.99" \
  --price-territory "USA" \
  --territories "USA"

asc subscriptions setup \
  --app APP_ID \
  --group-id GROUP_ID \
  --reference-name "Yearly" \
  --product-id "com.silpho.yourapp.ios.yearly" \
  --subscription-period ONE_YEAR \
  --locale "en-US" \
  --display-name "Yearly Plan" \
  --description "Unlimited Access To All Features" \
  --price "49.99" \
  --price-territory "USA" \
  --territories "USA"

Equalize prices across 175 territories

Apple has different price tiers for each country. Use the equalize command to set Apple's recommended equivalent prices everywhere.

# Equalize weekly subscription pricing
asc subscriptions pricing equalize \
  --subscription-id WEEKLY_SUB_ID \
  --base-price 7.99 \
  --confirm \
  --workers 16

# Equalize yearly subscription pricing
asc subscriptions pricing equalize \
  --subscription-id YEARLY_SUB_ID \
  --base-price 49.99 \
  --confirm \
  --workers 16

iOS: Manual Setup (App Store Connect UI)

1. Go to App Store Connect → Your App → Features → In-App Purchases
2. Click "+" to add:
   • Select type (Auto-Renewable Subscription recommended)
   • Reference Name: Internal name
   • Product ID: com.yourcompany.yourapp.ios.weekly
3. Configure subscription:
   • Subscription Group: Create new (e.g., "App Premium")
   • Duration: 1 Week
   • Price: Select tier
   • Localizations: Add display name and description
4. Repeat for yearly plan in the same group
5. Upload review screenshot for each subscription

Add free trial to yearly plan

In App Store Connect: Subscriptions > Your Group > Yearly > Subscription Prices > Introductory Offers > Free Trial > 1 Week.

Android: Google Play Console

1. Go to Play Console → Your App → Monetize → Products → Subscriptions
2. Click "Create subscription"
3. Fill in:
   • Product ID: pro_monthly (must match RevenueCat)
   • Name: Pro Monthly
   • Description: Full access to all features
4. Add base plan:
   • Duration: 1 month
   • Price: $4.99
   • Free trial: Optional (e.g., 7 days)
5. Activate subscription

Connecting to RevenueCat

1. Create RevenueCat Account

1. Go to revenuecat.com
2. Sign up for free account
3. Create new project

2. Add iOS App

1. Go to Project Settings → Apps → "+ New"
2. Select "App Store"
3. Enter:
   • App name
   • Bundle ID (from App Store Connect)
   • App Store Connect App-Specific Shared Secret
4. Save

3. Add Android App

1. Go to Project Settings → Apps → "+ New"
2. Select "Play Store"
3. Enter:
   • App name
   • Package name (from app.json)
   • Service Account Credentials JSON
4. Upload JSON and save

4. Create Products in RevenueCat

1. Go to Products → "+ New"
2. Add each product:
   • Identifier: pro_monthly
   • App Store Product ID: com.yourcompany.yourapp.pro_monthly
   • Play Store Product ID: pro_monthly

5. Create Entitlements

1. Go to Entitlements → "+ New"
2. Create "pro" entitlement
3. Attach all products that grant pro access

6. Create Offerings

1. Go to Offerings → "+ New"
2. Create "default" offering
3. Add packages:
   • Monthly ($monthly package)
   • Annual ($annual package)

7. Get API Keys

1. Go to Project Settings → API Keys
2. Copy:
   • iOS public key: appl_xxxxx
   • Android public key: goog_xxxxx
3. Add to your app's environment variables

EAS Configuration

1. Configure eas.json

{
  "cli": {
    "version": ">= 5.0.0"
  },
  "build": {
    "development": {
      "developmentClient": true,
      "distribution": "internal"
    },
    "preview": {
      "distribution": "internal",
      "ios": {
        "simulator": false
      }
    },
    "production": {
      "autoIncrement": true
    }
  },
  "submit": {
    "production": {
      "ios": {
        "appleId": "your@email.com",
        "ascAppId": "1234567890",
        "appleTeamId": "XXXXXXXXXX"
      },
      "android": {
        "serviceAccountKeyPath": "./path-to-key.json",
        "track": "internal"
      }
    }
  }
}

2. Get Required Values

iOS:

• appleId: Your Apple ID email
• ascAppId: From App Store Connect URL (the number after /app/)
• appleTeamId: From developer.apple.com/account → Membership → Team ID

Android:

• serviceAccountKeyPath: Path to the JSON key file from Play Console

3. Build and Submit

# Build for production
eas build --platform all --profile production

# Submit to stores
eas submit --platform ios
eas submit --platform android

Pre-Submission Checklist

iOS

• App icon uploaded (1024x1024)
• Screenshots for required device sizes
• App description and keywords
• Privacy policy URL
• Age rating completed
• Export compliance answered
• IDFA declaration (if using ads/analytics)
• Sign in with Apple implemented (if any auth)
• In-app purchases configured (if applicable)
• App review notes (demo account if needed)

Android

• App icon (512x512)
• Feature graphic (1024x500)
• Screenshots (phone + tablet if applicable)
• Short and full descriptions
• Privacy policy URL
• Content rating completed
• Target audience declared
• Data safety form completed
• App access instructions (if login required)

Common Rejection Reasons & Fixes

iOS — From Real Submissions

Android

Testing Before Release

iOS TestFlight

# Build for TestFlight
eas build --platform ios --profile production

# Submit to TestFlight
eas submit --platform ios

Then in App Store Connect:

1. Wait for processing (15-30 min)
2. Add testers (internal or external)
3. External testing requires App Review

Android Internal Testing

# Build for Android
eas build --platform android --profile production

# Submit to internal track
eas submit --platform android

Then in Play Console:

1. Go to Release → Testing → Internal testing
2. Create release
3. Add testers by email