RevenueCat Shipaton 2026

Overview

Welcome to the RevenueCat Shipaton — the mobile hackathon that's all about shipping… a ton. RevenueCat supports developers in building and monetizing amazing apps. Following the success of last year's Shipaton, this global hackathon returns bigger than ever. This August and September 2026, builders from around the world are invited to ship new apps and compete for over $700,000 in cash prizes and truly unique rewards, totaling over $1 million in prizes. The challenge is to ship a brand-new app to the App Store, Google Play Store, or Samsung Galaxy Store between August 1st and September 30th, 2026, integrating the RevenueCat SDK to power at least one in-app purchase or serve ads through RevenueCat Ads. The goal is to provide the final push for developers to launch projects they've been conceptualizing. Note that updates to previously released apps will not qualify; the focus is on bringing something entirely new to life. While brainstorming and building can occur before August 1st, the app must be released for the first time during the specified Shipaton window. Inspired by past contributions, the 2026 Shipaton offers increased incentives, including over $700,000 in cash prizes (with more to come from sponsors), winning apps featured on Times Square billboards, flights to New York City for the Shippies red carpet award ceremony and RevenueCat's App Growth Annual conference, press coverage for winners on 9to5Mac and 9to5Google, and new investor exposure through the Shipaton Growth Fund.

What to build

Entrants must create a working software application (a "Project") for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, or Android that utilizes the RevenueCat SDK to enable at least one in-app or web purchase. The first public version of the app must be released to the App Store, Google Play Store, or Samsung Galaxy Store between August 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026. Updates to previously released apps are not eligible. Students competing for the Next Gen Award have a different submission path, requiring a video and source code instead of a published store listing, without needing a paid Apple or Google developer account.

Prizes

Key dates

• Registration PeriodMay 15, 2026, 8:00 am PDT – September 30, 2026, 11:45 pm PDT
• Submission PeriodAugust 1, 2026, 12:00 am PDT – September 30, 2026, 11:45 pm PDT
• App Release WindowAugust 1, 2026 – September 30, 2026
• #BuildInPublic Engagement PeriodAugust 1, 2026, 8:30 am PDT – September 30, 2026, 11:45 pm PDT
• Judging PeriodOctober 1, 2026, 12:00 am PDT – October 13, 2026, 12:00 pm PDT
• Winners AnnouncedOctober 21, 2026, 12:00 pm EDT

Eligibility

Participants must be above the legal age of majority in their country of residence. Specific countries/territories may be excluded. The Next Gen Award category is exclusively for active students, including high school, university, bootcamp, and campus dev club members.

How to enter

1. Register for the hackathon on Devpost.
2. Ship a brand-new app to the App Store, Google Play Store, or Samsung Galaxy Store between August 1st and September 30th, 2026.
3. Integrate the RevenueCat SDK to power at least one in-app purchase or serve ads through RevenueCat Ads.
4. Submit the required materials on Devpost during the Submission Period (August 1, 2026 – September 30, 2026).

Submission requirements

• A working software application (Project) that uses the RevenueCat SDK for at least one in-app or web purchase.
• App must be built for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, or Android.
• The first public version of the app must be released between August 1 and September 30, 2026.
• A text description of your app's features and functionality.
• A demo video (max 2 minutes) showing the app running on its intended device, uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo and publicly visible, without third-party trademarks or copyrighted music/material unless permission is obtained.
• A URL to your fully published app on the App Store, Google Play, or Samsung Galaxy Store.
• A 1024x1024 app icon.
• At least one screenshot of the app at 1179px × 2556px with no device frame.
• Either a free trial in your app or a promo code for judges to unlock premium features for testing.
• Students competing for the Next Gen Award: Submit a video and open-source code instead of a published store listing.

Judging criteria

• Grand Prize: App with the most user traction and growth momentum during the event, demonstrating post-release growth efforts.
• Next Gen Award (Student-only): Best app submitted by active students, judged on video submission and open-source code.
• Catvertising Award: Most creative and effective use of RevenueCat Ads as a monetization method, focusing on clever placements, smart integration, and user experience.
• Best Game Award: Best mobile game shipped during the event, judged on gameplay, art direction, and suitable monetization fit.
• #BuildInPublic Award: For developers sharing the most interesting development journey on social media, emphasizing lessons learned or ideas from community engagement.
• HAMM Award (Help Apps Make Money): Project with the most robust and creative monetization strategy.
• RevenueCat Design Award: App that best represents the craft of app development, regardless of business potential, focusing on innovative ideas and/or beautiful design and animations.
• RevenueCat Peace Prize: Project that provides the greatest social good, with big benefits to communities or society at large.

Sponsors & partners

Resources

• Full Rules
• Shipaton Discord
• Shipaton Events Page
• RevenueCat SDK Docs
• RevenueCat Codelabs
• RevenueCat Zero to Ship
• RevenueCat Google Play Integration Codelabs
• RevenueCat App Store Integration Codelabs
• Troubleshooting RevenueCat Integration Codelabs
• General RevenueCat Troubleshooting
• AI Toolkits (skills) for RevenueCat SDK
• RevenueCat Product Videos
• RevenueCat IntelliJ IDE Plugin
• RevenueCat Android Docs
• Android In-App Purchases & Paywalls Codelabs
• RevenueCat iOS & Apple Docs
• iOS In-App Purchases & Paywalls Codelabs
• RevenueCat React Native Docs
• RevenueCat Expo Docs
• React Native In-App Purchases & Paywalls Codelabs
• RevenueCat Kotlin Multiplatform Docs
• Kotlin Multiplatform Purchases & Paywalls Codelabs
• RevenueCat Flutter Docs
• Flutter In-App Purchases & Paywalls Codelabs
• Shipaton Product Hunt Launch Guide
• RevenueCat Support
• Shipaton 2026 Overview Video
• RevenueCat Twitter
• RevenueCat LinkedIn
• RevenueCat Mastodon
• RevenueCat Bluesky
• Shipaton Website