How to Test In-App Purchases

Introduction

Test In-App Purchases to ensure your app’s checkout experience works flawlessly. This guide shows you how to simulate transactions, verify memberships or course enrollments, and check pricing and durations. By following these steps, you can confirm that all in-app purchases function correctly on both iOS and Android devices.

Prerequisites

Make sure you have already configured your In-App Products in your Apple account and Google account, and in your BuddyBoss App plugin.

Testing in Your Test Apps

• Limited Metadata:
  
  • Free Products show full details (label “Free” and “Lifetime” access).
    
  • Paid Products display a “Price” placeholder and a note that “Pricing and terms are only available in Release Apps.”
    
• Purchase Simulation:
  
  • Test Apps bypass real stores. You can “purchase” any paid product for free to verify enrollment flows.
    
  • These simulated purchases won’t charge members or fetch real currency rates.
    
• When to Use:
  
  • Verify that your plugin records transactions, enrolls users, and updates UI post-purchase.
    
  • Iterate quickly without dealing with App Store or Play Console approvals.
    

Testing in Your Release Apps

For full-price, real-UI testing, you’ll need to use Apple TestFlight and Google’s internal testing track. These methods let you see real prices (in local currency), genuine store dialogs, and server-sided behaviors yet with no actual charges.

iOS via TestFlight

1. Download IPA: From Build History in WordPress admin.
   
2. Upload to TestFlight: In App Store Connect > My Apps > TestFlight.
   
3. Invite Testers: Add testers’ Apple IDs.
   
4. Install & Test: Testers open TestFlight, install the app, log in, and complete real-looking purchases (no billing in sandbox).
   

Android via Internal Testing Track

1. Download APK: From Build History in WordPress admin.
   
2. Upload to Play Console: In Testing > Internal Testing, upload APK.
   
3. Approve & Invite: Wait for Google’s quick review, then invite testers.
   
4. Install & Test: Testers use the provided URL to install and make genuine-looking purchases (no actual charge).
   

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: Why don’t I see real prices in the Test App?
A: Test Apps can’t fetch store metadata. They show placeholders and simulate purchases.

Q: Paid products won’t “buy” in Test App.
A: Test Apps fake the flow instead of native dialogs, the plugin auto-confirms for testing.

Q: My Release build still shows placeholders.
A: Ensure you installed the correct TestFlight/APK build, then force-close the app to refresh cache.

Q: Purchases don’t appear under Transactions.
A: In Test Apps, check for “Test App” labels in BuddyBoss App > In-App Purchases > Transactions and use Revoke to reset.

Q: I’m getting billed during tests.
A: Double-check you’re using sandbox TestFlight or the internal testing track, not a production install.