Having free/paid version of app, keep save data when 'upgrading'

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

Hi all.

To be more specific, I would like to know if it is possible to have a free and paid version of an app, and allow the user to buy the paid version after using the free version and keep their data. I was wondering if I could avoid in-app purchases and have two versions of my app, a free and paid version, with the paid including a level creator. But I want the users level progress etc to carry over into the paid version. I know I could upload/download the save file sorta thing myself but I’d rather not if possible… I’ve tried looking for info about this and have found none so any help would be much appreciated.

I’m looking to do this for iOS and Android if it makes a difference

Thanks for your help :slight_smile:

#2

*bump*
I’m simply storing my data in a database. Is there anyway I can access app1’s system.DocumentsDirectory from app2?

#3

I would set up a server based database and store your information you want users to keep and just load it from the same location for both apps.

#4

If you have separate free and paid apps, they will both be treated as unique by the operating system (this is true for both Android and iOS).  Getting data between apps is discouraged.  You can send information to another app, but you can’t easily get data from another app.  In other words your free app could tell your paid app some things when the free one runs, but when you run the paid app, you have to way to get data from the free version.  Most people who got the paid version would not go run the free version.  The only way they can talk is by using URL scheme’s which can be used to have one app launch another and pass a limited amount of data on startup.

#5

Thankyou both very much for the response :slight_smile:

@xxgrime that had crossed my mind but I hoped to be able to do it another way :slight_smile:

@Rob Thankyou that’s just what I was looking for :slight_smile: I think iap is definitely the way to go for this one haha

#6

*bump*
I’m simply storing my data in a database. Is there anyway I can access app1’s system.DocumentsDirectory from app2?

#7

I would set up a server based database and store your information you want users to keep and just load it from the same location for both apps.

#8

If you have separate free and paid apps, they will both be treated as unique by the operating system (this is true for both Android and iOS).  Getting data between apps is discouraged.  You can send information to another app, but you can’t easily get data from another app.  In other words your free app could tell your paid app some things when the free one runs, but when you run the paid app, you have to way to get data from the free version.  Most people who got the paid version would not go run the free version.  The only way they can talk is by using URL scheme’s which can be used to have one app launch another and pass a limited amount of data on startup.

#9

Thankyou both very much for the response :slight_smile:

@xxgrime that had crossed my mind but I hoped to be able to do it another way :slight_smile:

@Rob Thankyou that’s just what I was looking for :slight_smile: I think iap is definitely the way to go for this one haha