RevenueCat Expands Mobile Subscription Tools with New Funding

RevenueCat has become a cornerstone in the mobile app economy, powering subscriptions for roughly one in three new subscription apps. With its software embedded in over 50,000 mobile apps, the company is now gearing up for significant expansion beyond its original focus on simplifying subscription billing.

The recent $50 million Series C funding round, led by Bain Capital and joined by returning investors like Index Ventures and Y Combinator, extends RevenueCat’s total funding to $100 million and values the company at $500 million. This capital infusion is set to accelerate RevenueCat’s growth and product innovation.

RevenueCat’s CEO Jacob Eiting envisions the company evolving much like Shopify did in e-commerce — starting with a core offering and expanding to solve a broader range of challenges for mobile developers. Beyond billing, RevenueCat plans to tackle issues such as customer acquisition, which has become more complex due to Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework, and provide financial support options for apps facing cash flow difficulties.

One of the most timely expansions is RevenueCat’s renewed focus on web-based payments. Following the Apple-Epic antitrust ruling, Apple now permits apps to link to external payment options without commission fees. RevenueCat’s web billing engine, launched in beta last fall, is designed specifically for mobile developers to capitalize on this change, competing with platforms like Stripe and Chargebee but tailored to mobile app needs.

What sets RevenueCat apart is its data-driven approach. By experimenting with billing changes on Dipsea, an audiobook app it acquired, RevenueCat can provide developers with insights on whether adopting web payments or handling payments independently makes financial sense. This experimentation could also influence industry standards and Apple’s commission structures by revealing the true value of in-app purchases.

Artificial intelligence is another frontier impacting RevenueCat’s trajectory. The rise of 'vibe-coded' apps — those created with AI-assisted coding tools — is lowering barriers for app development. RevenueCat is positioned to support this new wave of developers, potentially collaborating with AI coding platforms to streamline app monetization.

With the fresh funding, RevenueCat plans to build new products, expand its engineering and product teams, and pursue mergers and acquisitions to accelerate growth. The company’s ambition is clear: to become a public-scale platform that addresses the full spectrum of mobile app business challenges.

Why This Matters to Mobile Developers

Mobile developers face a rapidly shifting landscape with new payment regulations, privacy restrictions, and evolving monetization models. RevenueCat’s expanded toolkit offers a one-stop solution to navigate these complexities — from implementing subscriptions and web payments to optimizing customer acquisition and managing cash flow.

By leveraging RevenueCat’s data insights and infrastructure, developers can make informed decisions about payment strategies, reduce risk from fraud and chargebacks, and ultimately improve their app’s revenue potential. This is especially critical as Apple’s ecosystem evolves and competition intensifies.

Looking Ahead

RevenueCat’s journey from a subscription billing tool to a comprehensive mobile app business platform mirrors the broader evolution of the app economy itself. As AI accelerates app creation and regulatory changes reshape payment landscapes, companies like RevenueCat that combine infrastructure, data, and developer-centric innovation will be pivotal in shaping the future of mobile software.