Expo Go limitations
To test real purchases, you need either:- A custom dev build (
npx expo prebuildthen build for your device) - A production build (through app store or ad-hoc distribution)
Test vs production API keys
Newly automatically manages two sets of API keys:
You don’t need to manage this manually. The app automatically uses test keys in development and real keys in production. The switching happens at runtime based on React Native’s
__DEV__ flag.
Web preview
You can preview your paywall in the web browser. Here’s how it works:- Pricing is real — mock data is fetched from your RevenueCat dashboard so prices shown match your actual product configuration
- Purchases are simulated — no real charges occur in web preview
- Purchases persist — test purchases persist across page reloads so you can test the full flow
Testing checklist
1
Test in web preview first
Verify the paywall looks correct and the flow works end-to-end.
2
Build a dev build
Run
npx expo prebuild and build for your device to test with Test Store keys.3
Test on a real device
Use Apple’s sandbox testing or Google Play’s test tracks for real purchase flows.