How to Choose the Right Payment System for Your Wellness or Fitness App

You’ve built a fitness or wellness app. You know what it offers, who it’s for, and how it helps people. But when it’s time to turn that value into revenue, two things matter: How users will pay, and what exactly they’ll pay for.

Choosing a payment system is not just about plugging in Stripe or Apple Pay and calling it a day. It’s about understanding how your business model works, whether it’s subscriptions, freemium, or one-time purchases, and making sure your payment flow supports that model without friction.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What to look for when choosing a payment provider for wellness and fitness apps
• How different monetization models affect your payment setup
• Key questions to ask before you integrate anything
• Real-world advice from apps we’ve built or worked with

Because getting paid shouldn’t be harder than building the product.

What to Consider When Choosing a Payment System

Not all payment systems are created equal, especially when you're building a wellness or fitness app. You're not just accepting money. You're managing subscriptions, handling refunds, offering trials, dealing with app stores, and trying not to annoy your users in the process.

Here are the core things to think about:

In-app vs. external payments

If your app is distributed through the App Store or Google Play and you charge for digital content or features, you're often required to use their built-in payment systems. That means Apple or Google takes a percentage (usually 15-30%), and you have less control over pricing and trials. If your app charges for physical goods (like fitness equipment or coaching sessions outside the app), you can use external systems like Stripe or PayPal.

Subscription support

If your model is based on recurring payments, make sure your payment provider can handle renewals, failed payments, grace periods, and user cancellations. Stripe, RevenueCat, and native store billing systems each handle this differently and the user experience can vary a lot.

Free trials and intro offers

Wellness apps often rely on trials to convert users. Some systems make it easy to manage this; others don't. You'll want a setup where users can try premium features, see value quickly, and upgrade without jumping through hoops.

Cross-platform consistency

If your app runs on both iOS and Android (or has a web version too), you'll need to think about how payments are handled across platforms. Native payments through Apple and Google won't talk to each other, so users might lose access when they switch devices unless you plan for it.

Analytics and revenue tracking

You'll need clear data on how users are converting, what plans are working, and where revenue is coming from. Some payment systems (like RevenueCat or Paddle) give you solid dashboards that are out of the box. Others require custom integration.

Choosing the right payment system isn't just a technical decision. It affects how you price, test, and grow. The smoother it works behind the scenes, the easier it is to focus on building real value into the product.

What Payment Integrations Are Out There (and Which Ones Actually Work)

If you're building a wellness or fitness app, picking the right payment system early on is more important than it seems. From our experience, choosing the wrong one can cost you weeks later, especially when you realize it doesn't support trials, renewals, or proper reporting.

App Store Billing (Apple and Google Play)

This is the default if you're offering digital content inside a mobile app. Apple and Google require users to use their billing systems, making payments simple for them. Everything from trials to renewals and cancellations is handled automatically. We've used this flow on many projects, and it works well, especially when you want to get something up and running quickly. But you don't have much flexibility, and they take a commission on every transaction.

Web-Based Payments (Stripe, PayPal, Paddle)

For apps that also live on the web or offer physical goods or services, Stripe or PayPal is often the better route. You get more control over pricing, design, and discounts. We've used Stripe in cases where we needed a custom checkout flow or when the app had a companion web dashboard. Just keep in mind that if you're selling digital content inside a mobile app, Apple and Google might still require their billing systems.

Subscription Management Tools (RevenueCat, Adapty, Qonversion)

If you want the best of both worlds, we often use tools like RevenueCat. These tools sit on top of App Store and Google Play billing and simplify everything. You manage subscriptions in one place, sync data across iOS and Android, and get proper analytics without duplicating logic. In projects where clients wanted quick experiments, pricing tiers, or consistent behavior across platforms, RevenueCat was a huge time saver.

Local Payment Methods

In some markets, credit cards and mobile wallets aren't the go-to. We've integrated systems like Vipps in Norway or handled direct bank payments in Iceland. These integrations take more time and usually require backend coordination, but if your users expect them, it's worth doing right.

No matter which system you choose, the goal is the same: make it easy for your users to pay and ensure the payment flow supports your business model without creating friction. Start with what fits your product today, and choose tools that can scale with you as you grow.

How Your Monetization Model Affects the Payment Setup

Choosing a payment system is one thing. Making sure it actually supports how you make money that's where things often break. We've seen apps launch with the wrong setup, only to realize later they can't run trials, upsell properly, or even track conversions across platforms.

If your app runs on subscriptions, your payment system needs to handle recurring billing, support free trials, and flexible plan management. Native billing systems from Apple and Google handle this by default, but if you're cross-platform or want more control, a service like RevenueCat is worth it. It helps you sync user access across devices, test pricing, and manage everything in one place without duplicating logic between iOS and Android.

If your app works better with one-time purchases, say you're selling a workout bundle, sleep course, or a journal feature, then in-app purchases (IAPs) are the easiest way to go. They're simple, fast to set up, and familiar to users. Just make sure you clearly communicate the value. And if your product is available on the web too, Stripe or Paddle can handle those one-off payments outside the app stores, with more flexibility in pricing and bundling.

For freemium apps, where users can access core features for free and unlock extras later, payment flow is everything. If the upgrade process is clunky, you'll lose people. We've found that combining in-app purchases with onboarding prompts and usage-based nudges (e.g. "You've hit your daily limit. Want to unlock more?") drives the highest conversions. Tools like RevenueCat make this kind of upgrade logic much easier to manage over time.

And if you're combining digital products with physical services, web-based systems like Stripe give you more freedom. You avoid app store restrictions, control the checkout experience, and can add payment options like Apple Pay or local gateways depending on your users' preferences.

In short, don't treat monetization and payments as two separate things. They need to work together.

Key Questions to Ask Before You Integrate Anything

Before you commit to any payment system, even if it seems like the obvious choice, it's worth pausing and asking a few critical questions. These aren't just technical checks. They'll help you avoid costly changes down the road and make sure your payment flow supports your product and growth goals.

What platform requirements do you need to follow?

If you're launching on the App Store or Google Play, are you charging for digital goods or services? If yes, their billing rules will likely apply, and trying to work around them can get your app rejected.

Does the provider support your pricing model?

Can you run subscriptions with free trials? Offer one-time purchases? Support multiple currencies? If you plan to test pricing or run discounts, make sure the system allows for flexibility.

Do you need to support both mobile and web?

If your app is cross-platform, can the same payment logic work everywhere? Will a user's subscription sync if they start on Android and later log in on iOS or desktop?

What commission does the provider take?

Be sure to check how much commission the payment provider takes per transaction, as this directly affects your revenue. Some providers have higher fees, so it’s crucial to ensure the payment system fits your profit margins.

How does the payment system handle multi-currency and exchange rates?

If your app has an international audience, make sure the provider can handle multiple currencies and conversions. Ask how exchange rates are handled and if there are any additional fees for international transactions.

How will you track and manage subscriptions?

Will you get clear data on who's converting, who's churning, and how your revenue breaks down? Native tools don't always give you the visibility you need - consider whether you'll need a tool like RevenueCat for better insight.

Can you update or switch providers later if needed?

If the system you choose today stops meeting your needs six months from now, how hard will it be to change? It's better to plan for that possibility now than to be locked into something you've outgrown.

What does the user experience look like?

Is the checkout flow fast and mobile-friendly? Can users manage their own billing, cancel easily, or update payment info without contacting support? Friction here leads directly to lost revenue.

Choosing a payment provider isn't just a back-end task. It shapes how people experience your product and whether they're willing to pay for it at all. Treat it like part of your product design, not just infrastructure.

Final Thoughts

The smoother your payments, the easier it is for people to say yes to your app.

You don't need a perfect setup from day one, just one that fits your model, works well for your users, and won't hold you back as you grow. Start by understanding what you're selling, then choose a payment system that makes it simple to deliver that value.

If you're not sure what makes the most sense for your product or you want a second opinion before integrating anything, we're happy to help. We've built and scaled wellness and fitness apps across different markets, and we know what actually works in practice.