What are Subscription & Lifetime purchase? Difference between Lifetime and Subscription?

Modified on Thu, 3 Jul at 3:04 PM

What Is a Subscription?

A subscription is a payment plan that gives you ongoing access to the app’s premium features for a set period, such as weekly, monthly, or yearly. When you subscribe, you unlock all advanced features with no ads, no usage limits, and priority support for a better user experience.

Subscriptions are automatically renewed at the end of each billing cycle unless you cancel them at least 24 hours before the renewal date.

Example: If you start a monthly subscription, you’ll be charged every month until you cancel it in your iPhone’s Settings > Your Apple ID > Subscriptions.

Subscriptions are ideal for users who prefer short-term access or want to try premium features before committing to a lifetime plan.

What Is Lifetime?

A Lifetime purchase is a one-time payment that gives you permanent access to the app’s premium features, with no recurring charges and no expiration.

Once you buy the Lifetime package, you’ll enjoy:

Unlimited use of all premium features
No ads
No need to renew — ever

Ideal for users who want long-term access without ongoing payments.

Unlike subscriptions, Lifetime access is not billed again and remains active even if you uninstall or reinstall the app (as long as you're using the same Apple ID). Lifetime is not a subscription.

What’s the Difference Between Lifetime and Subscription?

Plan Type	Lifetime	Subscription
One-time Payment	Yes – pay once only	No – automatically renewed each period
Ongoing Charges	No recurring fees	Billed weekly, monthly, or yearly
Access Duration	Permanent access, no expiration	Access lasts only while the subscription is active
Best for	Long-term users who want a one-time cost	Flexible users who prefer smaller payments

Tip: If you plan to use the app long-term, the Lifetime option is more cost-effective. If you’re just trying it out or prefer to pay gradually, a Subscription may be better.