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Home › Pay › Common problems › Mobile game coins, gems and passes
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Mobile game coins, gems and passes

Many mobile games are free to download but sell coins, gems, loot boxes and season passes inside the game. Because you buy with game currency instead of dollars, it can be hard to tell how much you are really spending. Some passes also renew automatically. This page explains the common tricks, free phone settings that limit purchases, and how to cancel game subscriptions.

Common problems to watch for

  • Prices shown in gems or coins so the real dollar cost is unclear
  • Currency sold in bundles that never match item prices, leaving leftovers
  • Time-limited offers and countdown timers that push quick decisions
  • Random prize boxes where you do not know what you will get
  • Season or VIP passes that renew automatically each month
  • Making the game very slow or hard unless you pay to speed it up

Had one of these happen? Telling others what you were charged helps them avoid it.

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Free and low-cost alternatives

Turn off in-app purchases on iPhoneApple's Screen Time settings let you block in-app purchases or require a password. Family Sharing's Ask to Buy lets a parent approve a child's purchases.
Require approval on Google PlayGoogle Play can require authentication for purchases, and Google's Family Link lets parents approve a child's app and in-app purchases made through Google Play billing.
Ask: do you need to buy anything?There is no free substitute for game currency, but most such games can be played without paying. Setting a monthly game budget, or zero, is a sound option.

Availability depends on your device and model. AblePro has no relationship with any company named here.

How companies charge more here: Digital “ownership”

What fair pricing looks like

A one-time purchase with a clear dollar price is easier to judge than game currency. If you buy, decide on a monthly limit in dollars first and treat repeating passes like any other subscription.

Before you pay

  • Work out the real dollar price of the item, not just the gem or coin cost.
  • Check whether a pass or membership renews automatically.
  • Set a monthly spending limit before you open the store.
  • Turn on a password or approval requirement for purchases.
  • Wait a day before buying a 'limited time' offer.

How to cancel

  1. Season passes and VIP memberships are subscriptions. Cancel them in App Store or Google Play subscription settings.
  2. On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions, pick the app and tap Cancel Subscription.
  3. On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, choose Payments & subscriptions, then Subscriptions, and cancel there.
  4. One-time coin or gem purchases cannot be cancelled, but you can request a refund for accidental buys through Apple or Google.
  5. Deleting the game does not cancel a pass or membership, so cancel it in store settings first.

Step-by-step cancel guide for iPhone, Android and PayPal →

Common questions

My child spent money in a game without asking. What can I do?

First, turn on purchase controls: Screen Time and Ask to Buy on iPhone, or purchase approvals and Family Link on Android. Then request a refund through Apple or Google for the unwanted purchases, explaining a child made them. Refunds are decided case by case and are not guaranteed, so act quickly and keep receipts.

Why do games use gems or coins instead of dollars?

Game currency makes it harder to see what you are spending. Bundles often do not match item prices, so you end up with leftovers that tempt you to buy more. To stay in control, figure out what one gem or coin costs in dollars and use that when deciding whether an item is worth it.

Do season passes renew automatically?

Some do. A season pass may be a one-time purchase, while a VIP or monthly membership is often a subscription that renews until you cancel. Check your App Store or Google Play subscription list to see what is renewing. If the game appears there, you can cancel it there.

General consumer information, not legal or financial advice. Reports reflect the experiences and opinions of their writers, not AblePro, Inc. We check reports against our posting rules but do not verify them.