Buying the Shadowrocket app and paying for a connection service are two separate transactions. This guide is for checking the price before purchase, reinstalling the app on a new device, or distinguishing app costs from service plans. First verify the App Store listing and current price, then check your purchase history, and finally review your existing configuration and connection status.
1. Where to check the Shadowrocket price
Shadowrocket is a paid app for Apple platforms, distributed exclusively through the App Store. This guide does not quote a fixed price: the amount depends on the current App Store storefront, displayed currency, and price at the time of purchase. Check the price on the product page and confirm it again in the system purchase dialog. Prices shown in other storefronts or older articles may not match what your account will be charged.
Before checking the price, verify that you have the right app. The name should be Shadowrocket, the developer should be Shadow Launch Technology Limited, and the app ID should be 932747118. Use the link to the product page from our App Store verification page to avoid relying on search result names alone. The price button is for purchasing the app, not a service plan.
- Open the App Store product page and verify the app name, developer, and app ID.
- Check the amount and currency on the current price button. Do not convert a price from another storefront and assume it is what you will pay.
- Review the compatibility section for your device and system requirements. Refer to the App Store listing for system requirements.
- Confirm the product and amount in the system purchase dialog before completing the purchase.
If the product page shows a cloud icon or Open instead of a price, the account may already have an acquisition record, or the app may already be installed on the device. This status does not mean the price has changed. To check a past charge, review your purchase history and receipt.
2. What do one-time purchase and in-app purchases mean?
A one-time purchase gives you access to the app itself; it is not a monthly app subscription. It does not include any remote connection service. The app reads server details, subscriptions, and configuration files you already have, then handles connections according to your selected settings. Your service provider manages server availability, data limits, and service duration.
“In-app purchases” are additional items bought through the App Store purchase flow within an app, a different process from the initial purchase on the product page. To check for in-app purchases, look for In-App Purchases on the current App Store listing and review the items shown there. Do not treat a service provider’s bill as an in-app purchase. This guide does not infer future items or prices from older listings; rely on the items and transaction details shown at the time of purchase.
| What to check | Where to look | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| App purchase | App Store product page and purchase confirmation | Shadowrocket, developer, current price, and currency |
| In-app purchase items | In-App Purchases details on the product page and the corresponding transaction record | Item name, billing method, and what the purchase includes |
| Connection service fees | Your existing service provider account and bill | Service period, data allowance, and device or connection limits |
| Past app charges | Apple Account purchase history and receipts | Transaction date, amount paid, and purchasing account |
Bottom line: identify what you’re paying for before you pay
If you see a renewal reminder, first check whether it relates to an App Store transaction or your service provider account. Buying the app again will not renew a connection service.
When reviewing a charge, check the product name and billing period on the receipt. A description such as “Shadowrocket access” does not prove that the app purchase is included, and owning the app does not mean a remote service has been activated. Keep the records for these two expenses separate and check them independently if there’s a problem.
3. Why the app purchase doesn’t include a service plan
Shadowrocket is a connection tool, not a service plan. Buying the app does not buy a service plan. This guide assumes you already have your own service provider and subscription; we do not provide, sell, or recommend servers, subscriptions, or related services. After purchasing the app, you still need valid connection details to specify a connection destination.
The address, port, protocol, and credentials in a server configuration determine how a connection is established. For example, a Trojan configuration may use the server’s specified port 443, but use the port in your actual service details; 443 is not a universally correct default. Shadowsocks, VMess, VLESS, Trojan, Hysteria2, and WireGuard use different parameter formats. The app’s purchase price does not replace these protocol settings.
- App installed, no configuration: You can open the app, but no valid remote connection destination has been set.
- Configuration present, service expired: You still own the app, but the remote service may refuse connections. Check your service provider account.
- Configuration present, incorrect settings: If the address, port, or authentication details don’t match, buying the app again won’t fix those fields.
- Subscription imported, details changed: Update the existing subscription and verify the current server. Importing it once does not guarantee that all settings will remain valid indefinitely.
A subscription link provides access to configuration data; it is not proof of an App Store purchase. For example, https://example.com/sub?token=xxxx is a format example only and cannot be used to connect. A token in a real link may grant access, so don’t include it in public screenshots or troubleshooting logs. A successful subscription update only means the configuration was refreshed; it does not mean every connection will work.
4. What to check when moving to a new device and restoring a purchase
Here, “restore a purchase” mainly means downloading the app again from the App Store after buying it. It does not restore a remote service period or automatically recover all your configuration. First make sure the Apple Account used for App Store media and purchases is the one that made the original purchase. Checking only the device’s iCloud account is not enough to confirm which account owns the app purchase.
In the App Store, open your account page and look under Apps, Purchased, or another purchases section; the label varies by system version. If the app is not installed on the device, download it again from your purchase history. If you still see a price, verify the account, purchase history, and product listing before paying again.
Moving to a new device: handle app purchase history and configuration separately
Original device and purchasing account
- Confirm which Apple Account was used to purchase Shadowrocket.
- Keep the App Store receipt or purchase record and verify the app ID.
- Before erasing the original device, save any existing configuration and subscription details you need.
New device and first connection
- In the App Store, use the account with the purchase record to find the app in your purchase history.
- Check compatibility with the new device, then download the app again.
- Import your existing configuration, check the server details, and approve the system VPN prompt.
After downloading the app, verify separately that your configuration is complete. Purchase history does not restore server credentials.
Shadowrocket is primarily used on iPhone and iPad. Compatibility information for Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision is available on the same App Store product page. Refer to the App Store listing for system requirements and purchase eligibility. To check whether you can download the app again on another device, verify both your purchase history and the device’s compatibility rather than relying on the device brand alone.
If your original purchase is listed but the current download status is unexpected, note the account’s purchase details and the product page status, then follow Apple’s App Store account and purchase support process. Connection switches, rule settings, and subscription updates in the app do not change which account owns the App Store purchase.
5. Paid, but can’t connect? Check settings before buying again
Being able to open the app and having a working remote connection are two separate checks. In Home, verify that a server is available and selected. In Config, check the configuration file; in Settings, review other connection options. The first time you connect, follow the system prompt to allow a VPN configuration. Approval only lets the system create a connection; it does not confirm that server authentication succeeded.
In Home → Global Routing, Proxy, Direct, Config, and Scene are routing modes, not pricing tiers. The comparison below covers Shadowrocket settings only and helps distinguish rule issues from connection issues. Selecting a mode does not change the app’s purchase price.
Config
RecommendedUse the rules in the current configuration file to decide how traffic is handled. Before everyday use, verify that the configuration fits your needs; simply selecting Config is not enough.
Best for: everyday rule-based routing with a verified configuration file
Proxy
Handle requests in proxy mode to temporarily check the selected proxy route. This is not a higher-priced service and cannot make expired server credentials valid again.
Best for: temporarily checking whether configuration rules affect a request
Direct
Handle requests in direct mode. If a destination is reachable directly, that only confirms the direct route works; it does not prove that a remote proxy connection has been established.
Best for: checking direct access on your current network
Scene
Route traffic according to configured scenes. Check both the scene conditions and their corresponding settings; don’t infer the active policy from the mode name alone.
Best for: checking condition matches in an environment where scenes are already configured
With Config, rules are matched in order. This snippet illustrates syntax only; it is not a complete configuration file for your use: DOMAIN-SUFFIX matches domain suffixes, IP-CIDR matches IP ranges, GEOIP matches IP addresses using a geolocation database, and FINAL handles requests not matched earlier. The proxy policy specified by PROXY must be available in your actual configuration.
[Rule]
DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,PROXY
IP-CIDR,192.168.0.0/16,DIRECT,no-resolve
GEOIP,CN,DIRECT
FINAL,PROXY- In Home, confirm that the correct server is selected and check its address, port, and credentials.
- Use Connectivity Test to check the result. A timeout is a troubleshooting clue, not a prompt to pay for the app again.
- Check Global Routing and the active configuration to see whether the request matches the expected policy.
- If connections start automatically or keep reconnecting, check the conditions under Settings → On Demand. On Demand manages connections on request; it does not renew your service.
- Check whether your existing subscription needs updating, and review your service provider account for its expiry date or data status.
Bottom line: identify where the failure occurs, then check the relevant account
If the app won’t download, check your App Store purchase history. If the connection fails, check the server and configuration. If the service has expired, check your existing service provider account. Separating these issues can help you avoid buying the app twice.
6. Frequently asked questions before and after purchase
Why do prices vary between App Store storefronts?
Storefronts may use different currencies and local pricing, and payment methods may have their own rules. Check the amount shown on the App Store product page for your account and in the purchase confirmation. Don’t assume a price listed in one storefront is the fixed price in another.
I’ve already bought the app. Do I have to buy it again after deleting it?
First, use the original purchasing account to download the app again from your purchase history, and confirm the product identity and device compatibility. Deleting the app is not the same as deleting its purchase record. After reinstalling, check whether configurations previously stored on the device are still there; restoring the app does not necessarily restore its configuration.
The app opens. Does that mean my service is paid for and working?
No. Being able to open the app means the client is running. To check whether your connection service is active, review your existing service provider account, server configuration, and connection test results. Opening the app does not purchase a connection service for you.
Why might a connection still time out after a subscription updates successfully?
A subscription update and a connection test check different things. The update retrieves configuration data; the test checks whether the connection destination responds. Also verify the selected server, authentication details, service status, and network conditions. A successful update does not mean every server has passed a connectivity test.
What information should I keep after purchasing?
Keep your App Store purchase record or receipt, and separately organize your existing service period and configuration backup. Purchase records help verify the app transaction; configuration files help restore connections. If a backup contains a subscription token, password, or key, restrict access and never show full credentials in troubleshooting screenshots.