What is Shipaton 2026?
Shipaton is RevenueCat’s global mobile app hackathon. The 2026 submission window runs from August 1 to September 30 at 11:45 PM Pacific Time.
Shipaton rewards developers who ship, not the longest feature list. Publish a focused app while leaving time for store review, launch assets, and the official submission.
For the main competition, your app’s first public version must launch during that window. It must run on an eligible mobile platform and use the RevenueCat SDK to power at least one in-app or web purchase. The student-focused Next Gen category follows a different submission path and does not require a published store listing.
The standard Devpost submission requires a description, public store URL, 1024 by 1024 icon, specified screenshot without a device frame, and public demo video of no more than two minutes. Judges also need a free trial or promo code. Check the current rules because categories can differ.
The biggest Shipaton mistake is starting release work too late
A feature-complete app is not automatically ready to ship. StoreKit products may still be misconfigured. The Release build may behave differently from Debug. Privacy answers, screenshots, metadata, and review access can still be incomplete.
Finishing during the final week and assuming App Review will fit is dangerous. Apple says that 90% of submissions are reviewed in less than 24 hours on average, but this isn't guaranteed, especially right now, with several developers citing a wait time of 7 to 10 days (I experienced it!). A rejection or missing purchase can create another cycle.
Set an internal launch deadline before the Shipaton deadline. The remaining time is your buffer for review questions, fixes, and the Devpost submission.
Your Shipaton release checklist
Build and testing
Freeze the minimum feature set.
Test the archived Release build on supported devices.
Run onboarding, sign-in, permissions, offline states, and account deletion.
Distribute the candidate through TestFlight and resolve tester feedback.
Keep crash reporting and production services ready for launch.
StoreKit and RevenueCat
Create the correct App Store Connect products and subscription groups.
Match product identifiers in App Store Connect and RevenueCat.
Test purchase, restore, expiration, cancellation, and entitlement states.
Add the first IAP or subscription of each applicable type to the app-version submission, as required by Apple.
Prepare a free trial or promo code for Shipaton judges.
RevenueCat simplifies entitlement and purchase infrastructure, but it does not replace App Store Connect configuration or Apple’s review process.
Privacy and product page
Complete App Privacy answers, the privacy policy, age rating, and export-compliance questions.
Finalize the app name, subtitle, keywords, description, and category.
Create screenshots that match the submitted build.
Review every localization for language, layout, and market accuracy.
Prepare the app icon, demo video, launch announcement, and support page.
Use the App Store metadata checklist and localization guide before uploading the final product page.
App Review and Shipaton submission
Provide working demo credentials and clear review notes.
Explain non-obvious features and how to reach every purchase.
Keep the backend online and answer reviewer messages quickly.
Verify that the approved app is publicly available in the required window.
Test every Devpost link from a signed-out browser.
Submit the description, store URL, icon, screenshot, video, and judge access before the deadline.
The complete App Store publishing guide covers the Apple release workflow in more detail.
Create App Store screenshots that nails
Instead of spending the final days manually exporting and naming Figma files, use a faster workflow using Shipper.
Shipper helps Apple developers design screenshot sets, adapt layouts across Apple specifications, organize localized variants, manage metadata, and publish approved assets to App Store Connect.
Before uploading to App Store Connect, check the common screenshot errors and Apple’s screenshot guidelines.
FAQ
When is the Shipaton 2026 deadline?
The official submission deadline is September 30, 2026 at 11:45 PM Pacific Time. Verify the Devpost countdown and category rules before submitting.
Must a Shipaton app be published on the App Store?
The main competition requires the first public version to launch during the event window on an eligible store. The Next Gen student category uses a different path without a published listing.
Does RevenueCat replace StoreKit or App Store Connect setup?
No. You still configure products in App Store Connect, implement and test the purchase flow, and submit applicable IAPs or subscriptions for Apple review.
Conclusion
Shipaton is a sprint, but successful release preparation starts weeks before submission. Freeze the scope, test the real purchase flow, submit to App Review early, and prepare the product page before the build is approved.
When screenshots and metadata become the bottleneck, Shipper can keep that workflow organized from design through localization and App Store Connect publishing.
