App Store
StoreKit sandbox vs production
StoreKit sandbox and production are Apple's two purchase environments. Sandbox and TestFlight purchases are always sandbox; a real App Store purchase is production. Attribution behaves differently in each, so tests must match the environment an app is registered for.
Published · Last reviewed
Written by Attribloom Engineering · Reviewed by Attribloom Product · Last reviewed
Every StoreKit purchase carries an environment. TestFlight and StoreKit testing always emit sandbox; only a real App Store purchase emits production. There is no way to produce a production event before the app is live.
An Attribloom app is registered as Sandbox or Production. A Production app rejects sandbox notifications and writes nothing, which proves the isolation. A Sandbox app accepts them and records the conversion as a test, excluded from real payouts.
This lets you prove the whole pipeline safely in sandbox first, then confirm one real production sale once the instrumented build ships.
Frequently asked
Can I test the production attribution path with TestFlight?
No. TestFlight purchases are always sandbox. A production accrual only exists after a real App Store purchase on a live build. Test in sandbox first, then confirm one real sale.
What happens if a sandbox purchase hits a production app?
Attribloom returns a status that ignores the non-production notification and writes nothing to the ledger. Register a sandbox app to see accruals from sandbox purchases.