Expo + RevenueCat: Subscriptions in 5 Steps (and How to Test Them)

TL;DR

• Real purchases don't work in Expo Go. RevenueCat only runs a mock Preview API Mode there. Use a development build.
• Configure the SDK once at startup with a per-platform public key.
• Gate features on an entitlement (pro), never on product IDs.
• purchasePackage throws when the user cancels. Check e.userCancelled and move on.
• restorePurchases only from a button tap, never on launch.
• Test with RevenueCat's Test Store first, then Apple/Google sandboxes before review.

1. Install and rebuild

npx expo install react-native-purchases react-native-purchases-ui expo-dev-client
eas build --profile development --platform all

Skip the rebuild and you'll get `new NativeEventEmitter()` requires a non-null argument, which RevenueCat's docs call out directly.

2. Configure once

// app/_layout.tsx
useEffect(() => {
  if (__DEV__) Purchases.setLogLevel(LOG_LEVEL.VERBOSE);
  Purchases.configure({
    apiKey: Platform.OS === 'ios'
      ? process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_RC_APPLE_KEY!
      : process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_RC_GOOGLE_KEY!,
  });
}, []);

Public SDK keys are fine in EXPO_PUBLIC_ vars. Secret keys never go in the app. If you have your own auth, call Purchases.logIn(userId) after sign-in.

3. Paywall

Lazy option, RevenueCat's prebuilt paywall, only shown if the user isn't already pro:

import RevenueCatUI, { PAYWALL_RESULT } from 'react-native-purchases-ui';

const result = await RevenueCatUI.presentPaywallIfNeeded({
  requiredEntitlementIdentifier: 'pro',
});

const hasPro = [
  PAYWALL_RESULT.PURCHASED,
  PAYWALL_RESULT.RESTORED,
  PAYWALL_RESULT.NOT_PRESENTED, // already subscribed
].includes(result);

Custom UI option:

const offerings = await Purchases.getOfferings();
const packages = offerings.current?.availablePackages ?? [];

async function buy(pkg: PurchasesPackage) {
  try {
    const { customerInfo } = await Purchases.purchasePackage(pkg);
    if (customerInfo.entitlements.active['pro']) unlock();
  } catch (e: any) {
    if (!e.userCancelled) showError(e);
  }
}

Render pkg.product.priceString, not a hard-coded "$4.99". Prices are per country.

4. One hook for access

export function useIsPro() {
  const [isPro, setIsPro] = useState(false);
  useEffect(() => {
    const update = (info: CustomerInfo) =>
      setIsPro(typeof info.entitlements.active['pro'] !== 'undefined');
    Purchases.getCustomerInfo().then(update).catch(() => {});
    Purchases.addCustomerInfoUpdateListener(update);
    return () => { Purchases.removeCustomerInfoUpdateListener(update); };
  }, []);
  return isPro;
}

The listener means renewals, expiries and restores update the UI live. Still check on your backend for anything valuable server-side.

If you're still building the screens that sit behind the paywall, RapidNative generates a plain Expo Router + TypeScript project from a prompt that you can export and drop this code into. (I work on it.)

5. Restore button

const info = await Purchases.restorePurchases();

RevenueCat's docs say to call this only from a user action, because it can pop an OS sign-in prompt. Put the button on the paywall and in settings.

Testing

Android gotcha: products won't load unless a signed build is on a closed testing track, your account is a license tester, and you've opened the opt-in link. Sandbox renewals are fast (monthly every 5 min, yearly every 30 min, max six renewals), which is great for testing expiry.

Debug cheatsheet

What's been your biggest subscriptions headache in React Native: store setup, sandbox testing, or syncing access with your backend?