The mobile app monetization landscape is changing fast, and the opportunity for app developers has never been bigger. Following recent court rulings in the U.S., iOS and Android developers are now permitted to steer users from the app directly to a web checkout experience, with additional international legislation progressing as well.
This shift unlocks entirely new ways to convert users, increase revenue, and build direct customer relationships.
In our recent webinar with Business of Apps, FastSpring experts break down the current rules, the business opportunity behind app2web (“steering”), and what it takes to launch a successful strategy quickly.
Below, you’ll find the full replay plus a few of our top takeaways.
Why App2Web Is a Big Deal for App Brands
App2web isn’t just about reducing platform fees (though that’s a major benefit). When FastSpring surveyed gaming companies — 100% of which develop games for iOS, and 96% of which develop for Android — the #1 reason for adopting direct-to-consumer web stores was actually improved access to customer data (for example, email addresses).
That first-party data is so important because it opens the door to:
- Better retargeting and audience segmentation.
- Increased conversion efficiency in paid media.
- More control over retention, churn reduction, and win-back.
- Direct communication outside the app marketplaces.
How to Launch App-to-Web Monetization in Weeks, Not Months
When you’re launching app2web monetization flows, there are some essential steps you’ll want to follow in order to handle entitlement flows, secure token handling, and data pass-through for a smooth checkout experience.
Some specific points to consider are:
- Adding a “Buy Direct” call-to-action in your app.
- Passing user and product identifiers into your web checkout.
- Offering fast, familiar payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Using entitlements via webhooks or API to return users seamlessly to the app.
And if this process feels complicated, FastSpring’s SteerSafe™ solution simplifies this flow, making it easier to roll out app-to-web monetization quickly.
Outside the US? Web2App Is Your Next Growth Lever
Because steering rules differ by region, non-U.S. users often need to follow a two-step path in order to get access to these benefits:
- Drive them to a value-add non-payment experience (e.g., loyalty perks, community features, downloadable content) where you can convert users.
- Re-engage them with marketing to complete a web store checkout.
This approach still drives first-party data capture, unlocks access to new monetization levers, and prepares your business for future regulatory changes already underway in markets like Japan and the EU.
About FastSpring
FastSpring is how mobile app developers sell in more places around the world. For over two decades, FastSpring has been a trusted payment provider you can use to sell apps or in-app purchases on your website, web shop, or embedded directly into your app with fully customizable and branded checkouts just for you. FastSpring allows you to offload the complexity of global payments, sales tax and VAT compliance, player payments support, and many other aspects of payments management. Spend less time managing your payments and compliance and more time making great games! To learn more about how FastSpring supports mobile app developers, visit fastspring.com/apps.
