An in-app purchase is something you buy directly inside an app without leaving it, such as an extra feature, digital in-game currency or a single chapter in a reading app. An in-app purchase is billed to the payment method stored on your smartphone or to a balance you have topped up, and this is exactly where vouchers and gift cards come in: in many cases they can be used instead of a card or bank account to pay for in-app purchases.

People who buy a gift card for the App Store or Google Play often do so to deliberately limit what they spend on in-app purchases, or to give a present without handing over access to anyone's payment details. How the balance is actually used and what happens to a small amount left over is less obvious than it first seems.

What an in-app purchase is and how it is billed

Technically, an in-app purchase runs through the store of the operating system in question, not directly through the app itself, even though you make your choice inside the app. The store either takes the amount straight away from a stored payment method or deducts it from an existing balance on your account. If you have both, the balance is usually used first, before a card or other payment method is charged.

Vouchers and gift cards for the App Store and Google Play

A gift card for an app store loads a fixed amount onto your account, which can then be used for any in-app purchases, app downloads or digital content within that store. A code like this can usually only be redeemed in the country the card was issued for, and only in the store it is meant for. So a card for Google Play does not work in the App Store and vice versa, however similarly the two systems otherwise behave.

Worked example: topping up a balance and paying for in-app purchases

Say you redeem a gift card worth 25 euros. A single in-app purchase in a game costs 4.99 euros. Five of these purchases add up to 24.95 euros, leaving a balance of 0.05 euros on your account. This small amount usually does not expire, but it stays on the account until another purchase uses it up, because the main stores do not normally offer to pay out this remaining amount.

Why leftover balance is rarely refunded

A balance on an app store account is comparable to a gift card: it is meant to be used within that store, not paid out in cash. That applies however small the remaining amount is. How gift cards and vouchers differ in principle and what that means for a possible refund is explained in the article Gift cards and vouchers: the difference. The basics of refunds for digital purchases in general are also described in the article Digital goods: licences and refunds.

In-app purchases in games: subscription content versus one-off purchases

• A one-off purchase, such as a particular level or a single item, is paid for once and then stays saved in your account for good.
• Subscription content inside an app, on the other hand, carries on like a small subscription of its own, with recurring charges, until you actively cancel it.
• Balance from a gift card can be used for both, as long as there is enough on the account when each charge is due.

If an in-app subscription is paid from a topped-up balance and the amount is not enough for the next charge, the store will usually fall back automatically on your stored card, if one is saved.

In-app purchases across borders and country settings

A store account is tied to a particular country, which is set when you set up the device or account and cannot be changed as often as you like. A gift card bought for another country, for example while on holiday, often cannot be redeemed at all on an account set to a different country. Outside the eurozone, for example in Switzerland, the UK, the US or Canada, store accounts set up there bill in the local currency. A card in euros therefore does not fit such an account, even if the amount looks the same at first glance. If you regularly travel between several countries, it is worth checking before buying a gift card which country your own account is actually set up for.

What to look out for with offers on in-app purchases

Gift cards themselves are occasionally sold with a bonus, such as more balance than you actually pay for, while individual in-app purchases inside an app are discounted directly less often. A bonus like this on a gift card is only worth it if you can see yourself actually spending the topped-up balance within the same store, since it cannot be transferred between different stores or platforms. You can find current discount codes in the discount code overview, sorted by category.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a gift card for the App Store on Google Play too?

No. A gift card only works for the store it was issued for and cannot be transferred to an account on another system.

Will leftover balance be paid out to me after an in-app purchase?

Usually not. A remaining amount stays on the account as balance and is used on a future purchase; the main stores do not normally offer a cash payout.

Can I withdraw from an in-app purchase if I made it by mistake?

Digital content that is available immediately after purchase is often subject to special rules on the right of withdrawal. Details on when a refund is possible are explained in the article on digital goods linked above.

Does an in-app subscription keep running when the balance is used up?

Usually the store then falls back on another stored payment method. If there is none, the charge is normally stopped until there is enough balance or a valid payment method available again.