For photo & video apps
Monetize the edit, the AI render, and the unlock.
Photo and video apps run three revenue models at once: a Pro subscription like Lightroom, Canva Pro, or CapCut Pro; metered AI credits for generative fill and portraits; and one-time unlocks like Darkroom's lifetime Pro or paying to remove the watermark. CashSDK ships all three from one integration, with paywalls you A/B over the air and revenue you can read the same afternoon you launch.
Pro subscriptions · AI credit balances · one-time unlocks, one SDK, both stores.
Pro
Unlock every editing tool
Every filter, preset & AI tool
4K export, no watermark
Layers, masks & selective edits
Cloud sync across devices
YearlyBEST VALUE
$5.00 / mo · billed yearly
$59.99
Monthly
/ mo · cancel anytime
$11.99
Weekly
/ wk · try it out
$5.99
Start 7-day free trial
7-day free trial · cancel anytime
How the category prices
Three revenue models, running at the same time.
The top creative-tool apps stack a Pro subscription, metered generative-AI credits, and one-off unlocks, each targeting a different moment in the edit. Here is how the category really charges.
Recurring
Pro subscription
The revenue base: one Pro tier that unlocks every filter, layer, 4K export, and cloud sync, sold weekly, monthly, and yearly.
- Adobe Lightroom ~$11.99 / mo; Photography plan ~$19.99 / mo
- Canva Pro $15 / mo or $120 / yr; VSCO Plus $29.99 / yr, Pro $59.99 / yr
- CapCut Pro $19.99 / mo or $179.99 / yr; Facetune yearly ~$77.99
- A 7-day free trial is the category norm (Canva’s 30-day is the outlier)
Lightroom · Canva · VSCO · CapCut · Facetune
Consumable
AI / generative credits
The fast-growing layer: generative actions meter separately from the flat plan, drawing on a monthly allowance with top-up packs when it runs out.
- CapCut sells credit packs from $4.99 / 100 (valid ~2 yrs)
- PicsArt meters generative tools on credits + add-on packs (“Gold” retired → Plus/Pro/Ultra)
- Canva Magic Studio splits Standard vs Premium generation allowances
- Spent on generative fill, AI portraits, and background removal
PicsArt · CapCut · Canva
Pay once
One-time unlocks
One-off purchases that skip the subscription entirely, a lifetime Pro, a single preset pack, or paying to remove the watermark.
- Darkroom+ offers a $99.99 lifetime alongside $9.99 / mo and $39.99 / yr
- Lifetime and subscription unlock identical features: only billing differs
- Watermark-removal and single preset-pack unlocks are common micro-buys
- Facetune’s free tier gates saves (watermarked) to funnel the upgrade
Darkroom · Facetune
Market context only. Prices are representative US list prices for 2025–26 and vary by region, promotion, annual-vs-monthly commitment, and store cut; app and tier names are trademarks of their owners and are cited to describe the category, not affiliation. On the stores, these apps file under Apple “Photo & Video” and Google Play “Photography” / “Video Players & Editors.”
Paywall shapes
Every creative-tool paywall, rendered from our own components.
A Pro subscription, AI credit packs, and one-time unlocks, the same primitives, themed for photo and video. These are CashSDK’s unbranded chrome, never a copy of any app’s screen.
Pro
Unlock every editing tool
Every filter, preset & AI tool
4K export, no watermark
Layers, masks & selective edits
Cloud sync across devices
YearlyBEST VALUE
$5.00 / mo · billed yearly
$59.99
Monthly
/ mo · cancel anytime
$11.99
Weekly
/ wk · try it out
$5.99
Start 7-day free trial
7-day free trial · cancel anytime
Pro subscription
A weekly/monthly/yearly Pro tier unlocks every filter, 4K export, layers, and cloud sync.
AI credits
Top up your AI credits
Generative fill, AI portraits, and background removal spend credits. Refill anytime, credits don’t expire.
1,000 creditsBEST VALUE
$0.02 each
500 credits
$0.024 each
100 credits
quick top-up
Buy credits
Credits don’t expire · Restore purchase
AI credit packs
Generative fill, AI portraits, and background removal spend metered credits you top up on demand.
One-time unlock
Own it, no subscription
Pay once and keep it. Remove the watermark, grab a preset pack, or unlock Pro for life.
Lifetime ProPAY ONCE
one-time · yours forever
Film preset pack
one-time · 40 presets
Remove watermark
one-time unlock
Unlock now
One-time purchase · Restore purchase
One-time unlock
Pay once for lifetime Pro, a preset pack, or watermark removal, no subscription required.
Why CashSDK fits photo & video
One SDK for the whole creative-tool money stack.
Paywalls, experiments, credit balances, and validated receipts, the pieces a photo or video app needs to charge three different ways, without building billing infrastructure.
Paywalls you A/B over the air
Design the “Unlock Pro” upgrade in the dashboard, publish it without an app release, and change copy, tiers, and price for any cohort instantly.
Paywall canvasEditing · live
Unlimited projects
Advanced analytics
Annual · $59.99SAVE 40%
Blocks
Hero image
Headline
Feature list
Plan picker
Experiment on price & copy
Run holdouts on the paywall that gates 4K export or the AI tools. Measure conversion and revenue per install, not vibes.
Learn moreAI credits & balances
Sell generative-AI credit packs as spendable balances, granted and burned server-side so a render can’t be replayed for free.
Learn moreValidated receipts
Every Apple and Google receipt (subscription, credit pack, or lifetime unlock) is verified server-side into a clean entitlement.
Learn moreLocalized pricing, both stores
One catalog prices in local currency across the App Store and Google Play, with free trials and intro offers honored natively.
Built for the whole stack
Charge three ways from one integration.
0
Models: Pro subscription, AI credits, one-time unlocks
0 SDK
iOS, Android, React Native & Flutter
0
Receipt servers to run
Ship a creative paywall that pays off
A Pro subscription, AI credit packs, one-time unlocks, validated receipts, and localized pricing, all in one SDK. Start free and ship your first paywall this afternoon.