This guide explains how Shadowrocket pricing works, what the app purchase covers versus service fees, and how to check your purchase history when switching devices. It’s for people considering a purchase or troubleshooting a connection after paying. Connection steps assume you already have your own service and subscription.
How much does Shadowrocket cost? Check the App Store price
Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app available on the App Store, sold as a one-time purchase. It costs about US$2.99 in the US; other storefronts show local prices. These figures are for reference only and may differ from the price shown at checkout.
Prices and pricing tiers vary by storefront, so don’t convert the US price using the current exchange rate to estimate your total. To check the price, open the listing with the Apple Account you plan to use and confirm the currency and total on the payment screen.
A one-time purchase describes how the app is sold. It does not mean every possible paid item is included in the same transaction. Check the App Store listing for in-app purchases. If you’re asked to pay an additional amount, first confirm the item name, what it covers, and the payment screen. Don’t assume it’s part of the app purchase just because the app is installed.
What the app purchase covers—and what service plans cover
The app imports configurations, establishes connections, and applies routing rules. A service provides the servers and account details needed to connect. The two work together, but have separate purchase records, service periods, and support channels. Buying Shadowrocket does not automatically provide a list of usable servers.
| What to check | Shadowrocket app | Your existing service |
|---|---|---|
| Who you pay | App purchase through the App Store | Arranged separately between you and your service provider |
| What you get | Use of the app, including server management and rule configuration | Server addresses, authentication details, or subscription data |
| Duration and limits | One-time app purchase; not billed by service traffic usage | Expiry date, data allowance, and simultaneous connection limits depend on your service agreement |
| Where to get help | App Store purchase history, order details, and app installation | Your service account, its documentation, and support channels |
A subscription provided by your service provider is a way to update configuration; it is not the same as a recurring App Store subscription charge. A link can retrieve a server list, but the link itself doesn’t tell you the billing cycle. To find out whether you need to renew, check the relevant service’s order and expiry date—not just whether the link is still saved in Shadowrocket.
Bottom line: check which account was billed before renewing
For app purchase issues, check your App Store order. For an expired service or data limit, check your service account. Buying the app again won’t fix an expired service.
Before you buy: check the listing, price, and connection details
The App Store is the only place to get the app. Before purchasing, check the product name, developer, and app ID instead of relying on a similar-looking search result. Compare the official icon with the one shown in our app verification guide.
- Visit the app verification guide and check the product name Shadowrocket, developer Shadow Launch Technology Limited, and app ID
id932747118. - Open the App Store listing from the Get the App page and check the current price and currency for your storefront.
- Check device compatibility, system requirements, and purchase eligibility. Refer to the App Store listing for system requirements.
- Make sure you already have the connection details you need, such as a server address, protocol, port, and authentication details, or your own subscription link.
- Review the item name and amount on the payment confirmation screen, then complete the purchase and installation with your own Apple Account.
Keep purchase records in your own account. An order can confirm that the purchase went through, but it can’t replace connection settings. If you don’t have connection details yet, an empty server list after installation doesn’t mean the purchase failed.
iPhone, iPad, and switching devices: check purchases and configuration
When moving to another device, check app purchase eligibility and connection configuration separately. Being able to download the app again doesn’t mean your servers, rules, and authentication details have all been transferred. iPhone and iPad are the primary devices; refer to the App Store listing for Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision compatibility and whether the same purchase applies.
Before switching devices: keep purchase records and connection details separate
On your old device: gather your details
- Confirm which Apple Account you used to buy the app.
- Keep your order details and back up the Config file you’re currently using.
- Safely save your existing subscription and any server details you entered manually.
- Note the server selected in Home and the current Global Routing mode.
On your new device: restore each item
- Use the Apple Account from the original purchase to check your App Store purchase history.
- Redownload the app if permitted by the App Store and compatible with your device.
- Import your saved configuration and existing subscription.
- Check your service’s device limits, then test the connection.
App purchase eligibility, configuration transfer, and service connection limits are three separate checks. Completing one doesn’t mean the other two are satisfied.
If the App Store still shows a price, first check that you’re using the same Apple Account you used for the original purchase, then check your purchase history. Being signed in to the same iCloud account on your device doesn’t prove that you’re using the same App Store account. Don’t repeatedly confirm a new order until you’ve checked what’s going on.
To redownload an app you already purchased, use your App Store purchase history. Don’t treat an in-app restore option as a universal way to recover every payment. For a specific in-app purchase, follow the App Store listing and the app’s instructions for restoring it.
Paid, but can’t connect? Check your configuration and Global Routing
A successful payment confirms the app purchase; connecting also requires a working server, valid authentication, network access, and the right routing settings. Use Home to view and select servers, Config to manage configuration files, and Settings to check app settings. These sections serve different purposes.
- In Home, check that your existing subscription has been imported and updated, and that the server list isn’t empty.
- Select the server you want to use and check that its address, protocol, and port match your service details. Use the port specified in your configuration; don’t change everything to
443just because another entry uses443. - Turn on the connection switch and follow the system prompt to allow the VPN configuration to be added. Then run Connectivity Test and note whether it succeeds or fails.
- If the connection works but some requests fail, check Global Routing and the rules in your current Config. Save the original settings before making changes.
The options below compare routing modes within Shadowrocket only. Recommended Config assumes you already have a configuration from a known source with rules suited to your needs. Switching modes doesn’t provide new connection access or change your service’s expiry date.
Config
RecommendedRouting follows the rules in your current configuration. Requests matching DIRECT connect directly; requests matching a proxy policy use the corresponding route. If no earlier rule matches, FINAL determines the outcome.
Best for: everyday use with a valid configuration that routes traffic by domain or address.
Proxy
Routes connections through a proxy without selecting an exit based on the usual Config rules. This can help narrow down an issue, but doesn’t guarantee that the server is reachable.
Best for: brief comparison tests to distinguish rule-selection issues from proxy connection issues.
Direct
Routes connections directly without using a proxy. If direct connections work but Proxy doesn’t, check the selected server, authentication, and network path.
Best for: establishing a baseline on your local network and checking whether the issue occurs only on the proxy route.
Global Routing also includes Scene. Check the current scene conditions and what they do; don’t infer the actual route from the name alone. If the connection should turn on or off automatically when your network changes, check Settings → On Demand. On Demand controls when a connection starts or stops, not how long your service remains valid.
Bottom line: compare test results to find the issue—don’t pay again to troubleshoot
Run Direct and Proxy tests on the same network and record the results, then check which Config rule applies. Only investigate purchase history if getting the app or the order itself is the problem.
Pricing and renewal FAQs
Do I have to pay Shadowrocket every month after buying it?
The app is a one-time purchase. Fees for your existing service are separate; check the App Store listing for in-app purchases. If you see a charge, first check the product or service name on the order to see whether it’s related to the app purchase.
My subscription won’t update. Do I need to buy the app again?
First check that your existing subscription is still active, the link is complete, and your current network can reach the update endpoint. A subscription update failure happens while retrieving configuration; it doesn’t mean your app purchase is no longer valid. Keep any working configuration so you don’t accidentally delete everything while troubleshooting.
Why can’t I connect after my service expires, even though the rules are still in Config?
Rules determine how requests are routed; they don’t provide server authorization. DOMAIN-SUFFIX matches domain suffixes, GEOIP and IP-CIDR match address conditions, and FINAL determines the final policy. None of these rules can replace valid server authentication.
If I redownload the app, can I use it on all my devices at the same time?
App purchase eligibility and your service’s simultaneous connection limits are separate. Check the App Store listing for device compatibility and purchase eligibility, then check your service agreement for the allowed number of concurrent connections. Even if the app is installed on both devices, each one still needs its own configuration and connection checks.