Reference library · Comparisons
Head-to-head comparisons for indie iOS founders
Each comparison puts two tools against the same scenarios an indie iOS app actually faces — pre-revenue, first $5k a month, first paywall test, going web-to-app — and says which one to pick in each. Where the honest answer is "use both", the page shows how they fit together.
- Pages
- 2
- Last checked
- Sep 30, 2026
Feature grids make every tool look equivalent. The comparisons here start from the decision you're trying to make and work backwards to the two or three differences that actually change it — usually what the fee is charged on, how paywalls render, and how painful it is to leave.
Fee tables are computed from each vendor's published pricing on the date shown, not from their marketing claims about each other. For deeper detail on a single tool, see the tool reviews.
In this library
More added weekly
- RevenueCat · AdaptyRevenueCat vs Adapty: the free-tier gap, the builders, and who should pick whichAdapty dropped its $99 minimum in February 2026. Now both bill 1% — the question is what happens below $5k, and what you add on top.5 min · updated Sep 30, 2026
- RevenueCat · SuperwallRevenueCat vs Superwall: which one an indie iOS app should start with in 2026Both now sell subscription infrastructure and paywalls. They still come from opposite ends — and they bill on different money.5 min · updated Sep 30, 2026
How to use this library
Start at the scenario table
Find the row that matches where your app is. That row is the recommendation.
Check the fee base
Two tools can both say "1%" and bill very different amounts. The cost section shows what each one actually counts.
Plan the exit
Every comparison notes the official migration path between the two, so switching later isn't a rewrite.
Questions
Why compare only two tools per page?
Because that's the decision people actually make. Ten-way grids hide the few differences that matter.
Can I use two of these tools together?
Sometimes, and the page says when it's officially supported — for example Superwall on top of RevenueCat is a documented setup.
Will you set up whichever one I pick?
Our Paywall Setup installs RevenueCat. For other stacks, ask on a 15-minute call first.