This guide is for anyone planning to buy Shadowrocket or wondering about ongoing costs after purchase. First, distinguish the app price from in-app purchases and service provider plans. Then check the store listing, purchase history, and device settings. Get any existing subscription from your service provider. This guide covers what the purchase includes and how to verify it, not how to choose a service plan.
1. Shadowrocket Price: About US$2.99 in the US Storefront
Shadowrocket is a paid app for Apple platforms, purchased as a one-time payment through the App Store. The US price is about US$2.99, but this is not a fixed price for every storefront or at all times. Other storefronts display prices in local currencies. Check the current App Store product page and the system prompt at checkout for the actual amount.
Do not convert a price in another currency and assume the App Store must use the resulting amount. Store pricing and checkout totals may vary with local pricing and how taxes are displayed. Check the App Store listing for system requirements and general purchase terms. Before paying, verify the details on the device and storefront account you actually use.
Bottom line: Budget based on the amount shown for your account at checkout
Verify the app first, then check the price in your local currency. If the listed amount differs from the reference price, check the storefront and currency rather than judging whether it is the right app based on price alone.
2. One-Time Purchase, In-App Purchases, and Service Plans Explained
“One-time purchase” describes how you pay for the app; it does not mean one payment covers all network services. Shadowrocket reads server settings, establishes connections, applies rules, and displays diagnostic information. Server availability, service duration, data allowances, and device limits depend on the arrangements you have with your service provider.
| Item | Where to check | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| App purchase | App Store product page and purchase history | The purchase entitlement for the Shadowrocket app itself; it does not include a service provider plan. |
| In-app purchases | Relevant sections of the App Store product page and the system confirmation screen | Check the listing for the specific item, price, and purchase terms. These cannot be inferred from the app's price. |
| Service plan | Your existing service provider's account page | Service terms such as duration, data allowance, server access, and device limits. |
In-app purchases are a separate part of the App Store listing. The presence of an app price does not tell you whether a particular in-app purchase is available. Likewise, do not mistake monthly or annual charges from a service provider for a Shadowrocket renewal. Check the store listing for in-app purchases, and review the item name, price, and terms on the system confirmation screen before paying.
3. Before Buying: Verify the App and Device Requirements
Shadowrocket is available exclusively on Apple platforms, and the App Store is the only place to get it. It is primarily used on iPhone and iPad. For Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision compatibility, check the compatibility section of the same store listing. System requirements are as shown on the App Store page; do not rely on the device name alone to determine compatibility.
- Open the download guide.Start with the App Store download guide to verify the product, beginning with the app name: Shadowrocket.
- Check the developer.Look for Shadow Launch Technology Limited on the store page; do not rely only on the title or price in search results.
- Verify the app ID.The product ID is
932747118. Confirm that it matches the information in the download guide. - Review compatibility and purchase details.Check your device, system requirements, local price, and in-app purchase information before confirming the purchase.
- Keep your purchase record.After completing the transaction, check it in your App Store purchase history for future account and billing reference.
If you have already purchased the app but still see a price, do not pay again right away. First check whether the account currently used for App Store purchases is the one used for the original transaction, then review your purchase history. The account used for other services may differ from your App Store account. Verify using the account that actually completed the purchase.
4. Switching Devices: Keep Purchase History and Connection Settings Separate
When switching devices, check two separate things: whether the App Store recognizes your original purchase, and whether the new device has usable configuration. Redownloading a purchased app does not automatically restore server details, Config files, or connection permissions. Check the App Store page for eligibility to redownload and other general purchase terms.
Checklist: Check purchase history on the original device and configuration and permissions on the new one
Original device or purchase account
- Find Shadowrocket in your App Store purchase history.
- Confirm which storefront account made the transaction; checking the device's sign-in status alone is not enough.
- Gather the Config and server details you still use, taking care not to expose subscription credentials.
New iPhone or iPad
- Use the original purchase account to check purchased items and redownload availability.
- Restore configuration as needed. Get any subscription from your service provider.
- On the first connection, follow the system prompts to add a VPN configuration, then check the connection status on the Home page.
App purchase history, configuration recovery, and service provider device limits are three separate checks; one does not replace another.
Even if Shadowrocket opens on both devices, your service provider may limit the number of simultaneous connections. Having the same app installed on two devices does not mean your plan allows both to connect at once. Also, do not assume a subscription will appear automatically on another device. After restoring configuration, check the server list and selected server, then test the connection.
5. Paid but Can't Connect? Check Configuration and Service Status Separately
A successful payment confirms the app purchase; it does not confirm that a particular service is available. If you cannot connect from the Home page, first check that the SERVER list contains a server and that its dot is selected. Then confirm the address, port, protocol, and authentication details match the information from your service provider. Ports are not standardized; do not copy a value from another example just because the protocol name matches.
- Check service status.Make sure your existing plan has not expired, your allowance is not used up, and the subscription can still update normally. Get any subscription from your service provider.
- Check the selected server.Return to Home and confirm the selected item in the SERVER list. After updating a subscription, check again to make sure you have not selected an expired entry.
- Check the connection and test results.Turn on the switch at the top and follow the system prompts for VPN configuration permissions, then run Connectivity Test. Results reflect the conditions at the time of the test and do not guarantee access to every destination.
- Check Global Routing.If the connection is established but some requests fail, check whether the issue relates to rules or policies in Config. Do not assume you need to buy the app again.
Global Routing determines which policies handle requests. It does not change your app purchase entitlement or add data to your plan. The three common Shadowrocket settings below are compared only to help users with an existing configuration distinguish everyday use from temporary troubleshooting. Config does not necessarily mean that every unmatched request goes direct; the result depends on the configuration.
Config
RecommendedHandle requests according to the rules and policies in the current configuration. Check matching rules such as DOMAIN-SUFFIX, IP-CIDR, and GEOIP, and confirm which policy FINAL points to. Rule order and policy targets both affect the result.
Best for: Everyday use when you have specific rule requirements and have verified your current Config.
Proxy
Handle app-managed requests using a proxy policy, which can help you compare behavior with Config temporarily. This does not fix incorrect server settings or bypass service expiration or data limits.
Best for: Temporarily troubleshooting rules and policy selection when you already have a working server.
Direct
Handle app-managed requests using a direct policy. A working direct connection only shows that the current network can reach the relevant destination directly; it does not confirm that your service provider's server is working.
Best for: Comparing direct access on your current network to distinguish local network issues from proxy-path issues.
If a connection starts again automatically after you turn it off, check the enabled state and conditions under Settings → On Demand. On Demand starts connections when its configured conditions are met; it is not a billing switch. Disabling it does not cancel your service provider plan or change your App Store purchase history.
6. Billing and Refunds: Check Each Charge by Its Source
If you see an unfamiliar charge, first check the item description, payment method, date, and currency. Then determine whether it is for the app, a specific in-app purchase, or a service provider bill. The fact that you use Shadowrocket alone does not identify who collected the charge.
- Question about an app purchase charge:Check your App Store purchase history and the matching receipt. Confirm that it is for Shadowrocket and that you used the expected purchase account.
- Requesting a refund:Submit your request through Apple's purchase history and support process. Eligibility is determined by Apple's review; deleting the app is not a refund request.
- Expired service or insufficient data:Check your existing service provider plan details. Buying the app again will not resolve these service issues.
- Planning to remove the app:Save any configuration you need and separately check any service agreements. Deleting the app does not submit a request to end service with your provider.
Follow this order: confirm which product you bought, identify which service a current charge relates to, then address configuration and connection issues. This helps prevent repeat app purchases while troubleshooting a service connection and avoids mistaking the one-time app price for the total cost of ongoing network services.