I've noticed that several apps on the iOS App Store offer two purchasing options:
- Free app, then an in-app purchase of $x to the full version
- The full version of the app for an immediate purchase of $x
(Infuse is one such example)
Given that both purchasing methods get you exactly the same thing (that is, a working full version of the app) why would a developer go to the additional effort to make available both #1 and #2, rather than just have #1 in the App Store?
Please note
I'm looking for fact-based and not opinion-based answers. For example, a fact-based answer is that if you use Family Sharing then IAPs are not supported.
Best Answer
I followed up with a couple of developers of such apps that provide these two purchasing options.
It turns out that the sole reason that a second standalone purchasing option is offered (rather than just sticking with a single app with an IAP) is for those people who use Family Sharing.
As I alluded to in my question, IAPs don't work across Family Sharing so purchases that way wouldn't be reflected across all the devices you share.
If Apple didn't have this restriction, then a single free app with IAP would work for everybody - however because they do, then it doesn't.