How to Set-Up Android In-App Purchases in BuddyBoss App

Introduction

Monetizing your community on Android unlocks a new revenue stream for your BuddyBoss App. By selling memberships and courses through Google Play’s native billing, you simplify checkout for your members, ensure compliance with Google’s policies, and gain access to automated renewals and detailed purchase reporting.

This guide walks you through creating your Google payments profile, configuring one-time and subscription products in the Google Play Console, and linking them to your BuddyBoss App so purchases unlock the content you choose.

Tutorial VIdeo

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have connected your Google Developer account and configured your Android app in the BuddyBoss App’s settings.

Creating Payments Profile

First you’ll need to create a Payments profile for your Google Developer account. You can use a payments profile you set up previously to use with other Google products, or create a new one.

1. Log into Google Play Console
2. Go to Settings > Developer account > Payment settings
3. Click Create Payments Profile
4. Enter your Business location, Account type and Address
5. Enter your Primary contact
6. Enter your Public business information
7. Click Submit
8. You can now begin adding In-App Products and Subscriptions

Creating an In-App Product

In-app products are for products that require a one-time purchase.

1. Log into Google Play Console
2. Click on All Apps and then select your app
3. In the sidebar, go to Monetize > Products > In-app products
4. Click Create product
5. Enter a Product ID
   • It’s a good practice to use your application ID as the base for your product ID. For example, if your Application ID is com.fruit.oranges, and your product is called Tangerine, your product would be com.fruit.oranges.tangerine.
6. Scroll to Product Details, and enter a product Name and Description
7. Scroll to Price, and click on Set price
   • Enter the default price for your product, in your app’s currency
   • Google will automatically convert the price to other currencies
   • Click on Apply prices
8. Click Save
9. Click Activate

Creating a Subscription

Subscriptions are for products that require a recurring purchase.

Note: With the May 2022 release, Google changed how subscription products are defined, and this affects how they are sold in-app and managed on your backend. A single subscription can now have multiple base plans and offers. Previously-created subscription SKUs now appear in the Play Console as these new subscription, base plan, and offer objects.

You can read the full article here.

1. Log into Google Play Console.
2. Click on All Apps and then select your app.
3. In the sidebar, go to Monetize > Products > Subscriptions.
4. Click Create subscription.
5. Enter a Product ID.
   • It’s a good practice to use your application ID as the base for your product ID. For example, if your Application ID is com.fruit.oranges, and your product is called Tangerine, your product would be com.fruit.oranges.tangerine.
6. Enter a Name for the subscription.
   • Users will see this in emails and the subscription center. 
7. Scroll to Subscription Details then click Edit Subscription details.
   • Enter a product Name and Description
   • Enter your product Benefits
     • We recommend copying the benefits as your benefits in the BuddyBoss App settings, when editing the product from BuddyBoss App > In-App Purchases > Products.
   • Click Save Changes.
8. Scroll to Base Plans and Offers then click Add base plan.
   • Enter a Base plan ID.
   • Select a Renewal Type.
     • Auto-renewing
       • Automatically renews unless cancelled by the user.
     • Prepaid
       • Does not renew automatically. Users will need to make another payment to extend their plan.
   • Add tags.
     • Tags identify the base plan or the offer in the API. They can be used to determine which offer to show when the user is eligible for more than one.
   • Set the Price and Availability.
     • You can manage country / region availability and set prices for each one of them.
   • Click Save

Note: For each product, add a subscription category with at least 1 base plan added that is marked as Backwards Compatible. If there are more than one base plan added in a subscription, only 1 can be marked as backwards compatible and will show on the dropdown when adding a new product on your WordPress admin > BuddyBoss App > In-App Purchases > Products. 

9. Click Save.
10. Click Activate.

Linking Your Products in BuddyBoss App

Once your Google products are Active, sync them into your app:

1. In WordPress, go to BuddyBoss App > In-App Purchases > Products and click Add New.
   
2. Enter the Product Name, Tagline, Description, and Benefits.
   
3. Choose Display on Products Screen if you want it visible in your paywall.
   
4. Select Paid as the Product Type.
   
5. Under Android Store, check Enable, click Sync with Google, and pick your matching product.
   
6. Choose an Integration Type (e.g., Unlock LearnDash Course or assign a Membership).
   
7. Click Publish.
   

Repeat for each in-app product and subscription.

Testing Your Android In-App Purchases

Test App Builds

• Install your Test App on a device.
  
• Log in (any user) and open the Products paywall.
  
• Tap Purchase > Test Apps let you complete paid purchases at no cost.
  
• Verify enrollment in your course or membership.
  
• In WordPress, view BuddyBoss App > In-App Purchases > Transactions for “Test App” orders and use Revoke to reset.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: My Android product isn’t listed in BuddyBoss.
A: Ensure it’s Activated in Play Console, then click Sync with Google and refresh your menu.

Q: I changed the price but it shows old value.
A: After updating in Play Console, re-sync in the plugin and force-close the app to reload metadata.

Q: Test purchases aren’t revoked.
A: Use the Revoke button under Transactions, then restart the Test App completely.

Q: Users can buy multiple tiers simultaneously.
A: Group related subscriptions in BuddyBoss under Subscription Groups so only one can be active at once.

With your Android in-app products live and synced, your members can purchase inside your BuddyBoss App and you’ll start seeing revenue flow directly through Google Play!