In-app purchases are the silent budget killer. Unlike app downloads or subscriptions, which feel like deliberate decisions, in-app purchases often happen impulsively — a power-up here, a premium feature unlock there. Before you know it, you've spent more on in-app purchases than on all your apps combined.
Types of In-App Purchases
Not all in-app purchases are the same:
- Consumables — Items used once, like game currency, extra lives, or boosts. These are the most dangerous because you can buy them repeatedly.
- Non-consumables — Permanent unlocks, like removing ads or unlocking a pro feature. You buy these once.
- Auto-renewable subscriptions — Recurring charges that renew automatically until cancelled.
- Non-renewing subscriptions — Time-limited access that doesn't auto-renew (rare these days).
How to View Your In-App Purchase History
- Open Settings on your iPhone
- Tap your name at the top
- Tap Media & Purchases
- Tap View Account
- Tap Purchase History
In-app purchases appear alongside regular app purchases, identified by the app name and the specific item bought.
The Problem With Tracking In-App Purchases
Apple's purchase history shows individual transactions but doesn't give you a cumulative total per app. If you've made 47 separate in-app purchases in a game over six months, you'd need to find and add up all 47 entries manually. This is by design — if you could easily see the total, you'd probably stop spending.
How to Restrict In-App Purchases
If in-app purchases are becoming a problem, you can restrict them entirely:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Enable the toggle, then tap iTunes & App Store Purchases
- Set In-app Purchases to Don't Allow
This blocks all in-app purchases across every app. You can re-enable them temporarily when you want to make a deliberate purchase.
Setting Spending Limits for Children
If your children use your Apple devices, in-app purchases can get out of control quickly. Use Ask to Buy through Family Sharing to require your approval before any purchase, including in-app items.
Games: The Biggest Offenders
Mobile games account for the vast majority of in-app purchase revenue. Common tactics include:
- Energy systems — Pay to keep playing rather than waiting
- Loot boxes — Randomised rewards that encourage repeated purchases
- Season passes — Recurring purchases tied to game events
- Cosmetic items — Skins, outfits, and customisations that don't affect gameplay but cost real money
See Your Total In-App Spending Per App
iSpent totals up all your in-app purchases by app, so you can see exactly how much each game or service has really cost you — no manual adding required.