Definition
What MTR counts
MTR is the revenue a subscription platform such as RevenueCat records for your app over a month. RevenueCat's definition covers paid subscriptions, renewals and one-time purchases.
The platform doesn't have to handle the money for it to count. RevenueCat says it isn't a payment processor, and you're still paid by Apple, Google or Stripe.
MTR is based on what the customer was charged. RevenueCat, Adapty and Apphud all say they measure it before store fees, and RevenueCat and Apphud say before taxes too. Qonversion's page doesn't say either way. So a 1% fee on MTR is 1% of a bigger number than the money you receive.
How MTR differs from MRR
RevenueCat's docs say MTR is different from Monthly Recurring Revenue because it includes all purchases and renewals, including non-subscription products.
The billing cycle also changes the number. MRR divides a yearly plan by 12. A yearly renewal counts towards MTR in the billing period when it's tracked, so an app with many yearly plans can see MTR move a lot from month to month.
Details that differ between providers
- Billing period: RevenueCat runs from the same date in one month to the same date in the next. Qonversion uses the calendar month.
- Scope: Apphud counts revenue across all your apps and excludes sandbox data.
- Below the threshold: RevenueCat doesn't charge in a month when you're under $2,500, and Qonversion doesn't charge in a month you finish at or under $7,000.
Why crossing a threshold costs more than you'd expect
These four providers charge on all of your MTR once you pass the free limit, not only the part above it. On RevenueCat, $2,499 costs $0 and $2,500 costs $25.
I'm a RevenueCat customer, and I built a free calculator that compares these fees at your own revenue.
Examples
What each provider charges on MTR
| Provider | Free | Then |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueCat | Under $2,500 | 1% of all MTR |
| Adapty | Under $5,000 | 1% of the full month's MTR |
| Qonversion | Up to $7,000 | 0.8% of all MTR |
| Apphud | Up to $10,000 | Pro: 0.99%, at least $49 a month. Expert: 1.19%, at least $59 a month |
MTR compared with what you receive
Say customers pay $4,200 in a month and Apple's 15% small business rate applies. Taxes are left out to keep this simple.
- MTR: $4,200
- Apple's commission: $4,200 x 15% = $630
- What's left: $4,200 - $630 = $3,570
- RevenueCat's fee: $4,200 x 1% = $42, which is about 1.2% of the $3,570
Frequently asked
What does MTR stand for?
MTR stands for Monthly Tracked Revenue. It's the revenue a subscription platform records for your app in a month. RevenueCat, Adapty, Qonversion and Apphud use it to set their fees.
Is MTR before or after Apple's and Google's cut?
Before, on RevenueCat, Adapty and Apphud, which all say so. Qonversion's pricing page doesn't state it. That means a 1% fee is charged on what customers paid, including the part the store keeps.
What is the difference between MTR and MRR?
MRR is a normalized figure for active subscriptions, with yearly plans divided by 12. MTR is the revenue tracked in the period, including renewals and one-time purchases, so it can move more from month to month.
Do one-time purchases count towards MTR?
Yes on RevenueCat, Qonversion and Apphud, which name them. Adapty's definition says purchases and renewals tracked by Adapty.