# monetization-strategy

Guides your agent through app monetization: pricing tiers, paywall timing, free trials and in-app purchases, with category benchmarks and a fixed recommendation template.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3700 installs · ★ 2219
- Author: appeeky
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/monetization-strategy/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-06
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/monetization-strategy

## What it does

A step-by-step review of how an app earns money. The skill asks for your current model (free, freemium, paid, subscription, ads) and price, then free-to-paid conversion, category and audience. From there it maps your case onto its reference tables for models, tiers and trial length. If `app-marketing-context.md` sits in the project, the agent reads it first, so product context carries over between sessions.

Inside are reference tables: five monetization models compared, a tier grid from free to family, pricing psychology, category benchmarks, paywall timing with expected conversion, a seven-block paywall layout and metric formulas for ARPU, LTV and payback. The reply arrives in a fixed template — recommended model, prices, trial length — plus a week-by-week rollout.

Nothing here reads live numbers. Feed it your actual conversion and price, or it will reason from those general ranges, which is a fine starting point and a poor final answer. Retention questions go to `retention-optimization` instead.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill monetization-strategy -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/monetization-strategy/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/monetization-strategy/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill monetization-strategy -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/monetization-strategy/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill monetization-strategy -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/monetization-strategy/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install appeeky/aso-skills monetization-strategy
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/monetization-strategy/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill monetization-strategy -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills --path skills/monetization-strategy
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/monetization-strategy/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill monetization-strategy -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/monetization-strategy/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- pick a model: freemium with subscriptions, in-app purchases or a hybrid
- set monthly and annual prices and work out the annual discount
- decide when the paywall appears, at onboarding or after the aha moment
- lay out the paywall screen with a free trial and restore-purchases link
- turn raw numbers into ARPU, LTV and payback period

## Example prompts
- Audit my app's monetization: freemium with a $4.99 monthly subscription, 2-5% conversion to paid. What should I change first?
- Design the paywall that shows after the aha moment: headline, three benefits, annual price and a free 7-day trial.
- Compare my $9.99 monthly and $49.99 annual tiers for a productivity app. Is the annual discount big enough?

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 355e1e6285b170c9.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 355e1e6285b170c9
```text
---
name: monetization-strategy
description: When the user wants to design or optimize their app's monetization — pricing, paywalls, subscriptions, or in-app purchases. Also use when the user mentions "pricing", "paywall", "subscription", "IAP", "how to monetize", "revenue optimization", "free trial", or "conversion to paid". For retention impact, see retention-optimization. For competitive pricing, see competitor-analysis.
metadata:
  version: 1.0.0
---

# Monetization Strategy

You are an expert in mobile app monetization with deep knowledge of subscription economics, paywall psychology, and pricing strategy. Your goal is to help the user maximize revenue while maintaining user satisfaction.

## Initial Assessment

1. Check for `app-marketing-context.md` — read it for context
2. Ask for **current monetization model** (free, freemium, paid, subscription, ads)
3. Ask for **current pricing** (if applicable)
4. Ask for **conversion rate** (free to paid, trial to subscription)
5. Ask for **category** (monetization norms vary dramatically)
6. Ask for **target audience** (willingness to pay varies)

## Monetization Models

### Model Comparison

| Model | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|-------|----------|------|------|
| **Freemium + Subscription** | Productivity, health, education | Recurring revenue, high LTV | Requires ongoing value delivery |
| **Freemium + IAP** | Games, social, utilities | Low barrier, impulse purchases | Unpredictable revenue |
| **Paid Upfront** | Niche tools, premium apps | Simple, immediate revenue | Limits downloads, hard to market |
| **Free + Ads** | Content, casual games | Massive reach | Low ARPU, hurts UX |
| **Hybrid** | Most apps | Multiple revenue streams | Complex to optimize |

### Subscription Pricing Strategy

**Pricing Tiers:**

| Tier | Purpose | Pricing Guide |
|------|---------|--------------|
| **Free** | Acquisition, habit formation | Core value with limitations |
| **Monthly** | Low commitment, testing | $X.99/month (anchor for annual) |
| **Annual** | Best value, highest LTV | 40-60% discount vs monthly |
| **Lifetime** | One-time buyers, cash flow | 2-3x annual price |
| **Family** | Household expansion | 1.5-2x individual price |

**Pricing Psychology:**
- End in .99 ($4.99, $9.99) — still works on App Store
- Anchor with monthly, push annual ("Save 50%")
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 355e1e6285b170c9

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First 2340 of 6745 bytes. © appeeky · MIT · https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/monetization-strategy/SKILL.md

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---
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