6 must-have features to include before launching your mobile app

More than 77 % of users abandon an app after 3 days; only 5.6 % remain after 30 days. Needless to say, a shaky V1 without the following building blocks is like playing Russian roulette with your retention… and your cash flow.

1. Clear onboarding : your first impression is worth its weight in gold

Why is this critical?

• A guided onboarding can double day-7 retention (NudgeNow study, 2024).
• Blinkist segments the user from the first screen and personalizes 100 % of recommended content.

Onboarding best practices

1. Personalize : 1–3 questions to tailor the flow.
2. Interactive tutorial rather than a passive carousel.
3. "Skip" button always visible.

Code

IntroductionScreen(
  pages: [
    PageViewModel(
      title: "Bienvenue !",
      body: "Découvrez des histoires sur‑mesure en 3 étapes.",
      image: Image.asset('assets/hero.png', alt: 'Écran d'intro'),
    ),
    // …
  ],
  showSkipButton: true,
  onDone: () => context.push('/home'),
);

Package : introduction_screen

"What if your onboarding turned five minutes of attention into a daily habit?"

2. Thoughtful permission requests : timing makes all the difference

The danger of an out-of-context pop-up

Behance increased its camera opt-in by 18 % by requesting permission only at the moment of uploading a photo.

Three-step strategy

1. Explainer screen (value for the user).
2. Native prompt immediately after.
3. Plan B : offer opening the settings if declined.

Flutter code

final status = await Permission.microphone.status;
if (!status.isGranted) {
  if (await Permission.microphone.request().isGranted) {
    // Accès autorisé : lancer la fonctionnalité
  } else {
    openAppSettings(); // permission_handler
  }
}

Package : permission_handler

"Your users must say 'yes' spontaneously; the rest is a bonus."

3. In-app purchases from V1 : RevenueCat, your monetization co-pilot

Skip the homemade IAP plumbing: in three calls, you manage Apple and Google, validate receipts server-side and enjoy real-time dashboards.

Why switch to RevenueCat?

• Unified backend + SDK that encapsulate StoreKit 2 and Google Play Billing.
• Open‑source Flutter SDK purchases_flutter : a single Dart API for iOS & Android.
• Apps like PhotoRoom or ASL Bloom use it as the revenue "source of truth"; ASL Bloom saw +12 % ARPU after optimization.

2025 regulatory context

• Google Play Billing 6 has been mandatory since 2023; RevenueCat follows releases as soon as they come out.
• Apple now allows external payment methods; RevenueCat already aggregates these flows.

Ultra‑light code

import 'package:purchases_flutter/purchases_flutter.dart';

Future<void> initRC() async {
  await Purchases.configure(
    PurchasesConfiguration('public_sdk_key')..appUserID = userId,
  );

  final offerings = await Purchases.getOfferings();
  final package = offerings.current!.monthly!;
  await Purchases.purchasePackage(package);
}

Add to pubspec.yaml : purchases_flutter: ^8.8.0

RevenueCat validates receipts server-side, maintains your entitlements and returns subscription status in real time.

RevenueCat best practices

1. A/B test your paywalls with RevenueCat Experiments (price, trial length, placement) without re‑submitting to the App Store.
2. Animate your paywalls : micro‑animations increase conversions.
3. Targeted placements : different offer in the onboarding vs. after a feature‑gate.
4. Track LTV, churn, MRR in the dashboard to refine your pricing.
5. Webhooks & integrations : send events to Firebase, Segment, Slack without extra code.

"Every day without RevenueCat is revenue that your users are already paying… to your competitors."

4. Account deletion : from legal requirement to marketing advantage

Key regulations

• App Store : requirement since June 30, 2022.
• Google Play : one-click deletion (otherwise removal from the store starting May 31, 2024).

Recommended flow

1. Link "Delete my account" in Settings > Security.
2. Possible 2FA verification.
3. Clear message about data and subscription loss.

Firebase Function example

export const deleteAccount = functions.https.onCall(async (_, context) => {
  await admin.auth().deleteUser(context.auth!.uid);
  await admin.firestore().collection("users").doc(context.auth!.uid).delete();
  return { ok: true };
});

"The easier you make leaving, the more users trust you to stay."

5. Contact form : turn complainers into advocates

Why is this profitable?

Apps that collect in‑app feedback get up to 4 × more 5‑star reviews. Duolingo displays a "Report an issue" button on every screen and continuously feeds its product backlog.

Accessible design

• Maximum 5 fields.
• Attachment (screenshot) allowed.
• Confirmation page + announced response time.

Code

ElevatedButton(
  onPressed: () => launchUrl(
    Uri.parse('mailto:support@monapp.dev?subject=Feedback'),
  ),
  child: const Text('Nous écrire'),
);

Useful packages : url_launcher, flutter_contact

"An open channel is better than a 1‑★ rager on the store!"

6. Meta Events SDK : a turbo boost for your acquisition campaigns

Why integrate it?

• Effective look-alike targeting : average ROI +28 % (Meta).
• Conversion API to bypass iOS 17 tracking limits.

Flutter integration

import 'package:facebook_app_events/facebook_app_events.dart';

final facebookAppEvents = FacebookAppEvents();
facebookAppEvents.logEvent(
  name: 'tutorial_completed',
  parameters: {'value': 1},
);

Package : facebook_app_events

Facebook Ads best practices

1. Map your key events : sign-up, purchase, share.
2. Align web + mobile naming for unified retargeting.

"Without events, your ads are white noise; with them, they sing true."

Conclusion : a solid V1, calm iterations

By integrating these 6 building blocks before launch, you:

• Maximize retention through onboarding and contextual permissions.
• Secure your revenue with in‑app purchases orchestrated by RevenueCat.
• Earn the stores' (and users') trust via account deletion.
• Turn every customer message into a product opportunity.
• Power your acquisition campaigns with reliable data.

👉 Need a mobile app ? Contact me to talk about your project.

References & resources