Subscription group
A subscription group is the App Store Connect container that holds related auto-renewable subscriptions for one app service. Customers can subscribe to one subscription in a group at a time. Helm helps you work with products, pricing, and offers in that catalog without losing the group structure.
What a subscription group is
Subscription groups organize plans such as Monthly and Yearly, or Basic and Pro, under one service. Apple uses the group for upgrade, downgrade, and crossgrade behavior, and for introductory-offer eligibility across the group.
Putting unrelated products in one group confuses upgrades and offer rules. Separate services usually deserve separate groups.
Why it matters when you ship
Paywalls, analytics, and support all assume the group model. A wrong level ranking or mixed service in one group creates surprising switches for customers.
When you add a plan, check how it sits relative to existing levels so upgrades feel intentional.
How Helm helps
In-app purchases in Helm keep subscription products, pricing, and offers together so group work stays visible while you edit.
Pair offer setup with clean localizations and review screenshots when App Review needs to see the purchase flow.
Practical group design
Name groups by service, not by experiment. Rank levels so customers understand what “higher” means. Document which plan is the default path on the paywall.
Test upgrades and downgrades in sandbox before you market a new tier.
FAQ
Can a customer hold two subscriptions in one group?
No. Within a single subscription group, a customer subscribes to one subscription at a time. Switches follow Apple’s upgrade and downgrade rules.
Do introductory offers apply per group?
Eligibility for introductory offers is tied to Apple’s rules for the subscription group. Using an intro on one plan in the group typically affects intro eligibility for the rest of that group.
Does Helm replace App Store Connect for subscription groups?
App Store Connect remains the system of record. Helm is a native companion for managing IAP and subscription work with less tab switching.
