An in-app purchase is a piece of content or a feature that you buy within an app that you download to your mobile device or computer. Whether you use the Mac App Store, iOS App Store, Google Play, or another app provider to obtain an app, you will eventually be presented with the opportunity to purchase something within many apps. You may be tempted to unlock extra features in one game app, pay for the ability to use an app without ads, or purchase an e-book in another.

In-app purchases have increased tremendously in the past few years. The gaming industry has undergone major changes as in-app purchases have become ubiquitous in almost all sectors of the industry.

While in-app purchases used to be associated with free apps and games, they are now common across all types of apps, including those that you pay to download. There are several different types of in-app purchases, including:

In-app purchases are completely controlled by the app, so there’s no single place to find them. Some apps and games have an in-app store that lists the different purchases available. Other apps will prompt you when you try to use a limited feature. For example, an app that uses your smartphone’s camera might have an in-app purchase for printing that’s offered when you try to print a document.