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Yes - and it's 30%. Previously, Spotify would charge $9.99/month for a subscription through their website, or $12.99 for a subscription purchased through the iO

Yes - and it's 30%. Previously, Spotify would charge $9.99/month for a subscription through their website, or $12.99 for a subscription purchased through the iOS app, to cover this cost. In the most recent version of the iOS app, they decided to disallow in-app subscriptions entirely and push all subscriptions to the web app. IIUC this is the app update that has been blocked by Apple... (disclaimer: I work for Spotify)

a_small_island 10y ago
>IIUC First time seeing this, but it's If I Understand Correctly for those who didn't know either.
k-mcgrady 10y ago
>> "In the most recent version of the iOS app, they decided to disallow in-app subscriptions entirely and push all subscriptions to the web app." We should be clear about this though as doing that is not against the rules. Take the Kindle app for example. You can buy books through the Amazon website and use them in the app. Apple doesn't get a cut. Spotify can do the same thing. The issue is that there are very specific rules around it - for example I don't believe you can include a 'sign up' button that throws the user out of the app to your payment page. It sounds like Spotify was trying to get around this by sending the user an email when they signed up through the app, and telling them to look in the email for a link to the payment page. At least this is what I've read over the last couple of days.
- dandelany 10y ago
  Thanks, this is an important point. I'm not sure exactly what Apple allows/disallows in terms of informing users about other payment options, or what Spotify is doing that would be in violation of these rules, but this is the crux of the disagreement.
  - MBCook 10y ago
    My understanding is that you're allowed to sell things however you want, but inside the app you have to use Apple's purchase methods. You can't use your own, and you can't put directions in the app to go to a website or something else to purchase content. So in the app you have to do what Amazon does and never show it by button or a "how to buy" button. And just for extra clarity, Apples policies only apply to digital goods. If you buy a real world service or physical item through an app Apple does not take a cut, but they also don't handle the payment. That's why Amazon doesn't have to pay Apple 30% when you buy a new TV from them.
    - Oletros 10y ago
      Tell me what's the difference between selling physical goods and digital services when none of them are stored or distributed by Apple
MBCook 10y ago
The answer is no. Not every user who uses some subscription thing on iOS has to pay Apple 30% cut. The deciding factor is whether or not Apple handles the subscription and billing. If you sign up through the app (and therefore the iTunes Store), and Apple does the billing, you have to pay the cut. If you sign up for a dropcam subscription OUTSIDE the App Store and then log into the app there is no cut. Example: I subscribe to both Hulu, Netflix, Comcast, and a few other things. I pay all of them directly. They all have free apps. Apple gets exactly 0% of my bills to them because I didn't sign up in the app. I get that in-app sign-up is INCREDIBLY convenient. But the fee does not apply regardless of where the subscription was purchased, which is what I read OP's question to be.

a_small_island 10y ago

>IIUC First time seeing this, but it's If I Understand Correctly for those who didn't know either.

k-mcgrady 10y ago

>> "In the most recent version of the iOS app, they decided to disallow in-app subscriptions entirely and push all subscriptions to the web app." We should be clear about this though as doing that is not against the rules. Take the Kindle app for example. You can buy books through the Amazon website and use them in the app. Apple doesn't get a cut. Spotify can do the same thing. The issue is that there are very specific rules around it - for example I don't believe you can include a 'sign up' button that throws the user out of the app to your payment page. It sounds like Spotify was trying to get around this by sending the user an email when they signed up through the app, and telling them to look in the email for a link to the payment page. At least this is what I've read over the last couple of days.

dandelany 10y ago
Thanks, this is an important point. I'm not sure exactly what Apple allows/disallows in terms of informing users about other payment options, or what Spotify is doing that would be in violation of these rules, but this is the crux of the disagreement.
- MBCook 10y ago
  My understanding is that you're allowed to sell things however you want, but inside the app you have to use Apple's purchase methods. You can't use your own, and you can't put directions in the app to go to a website or something else to purchase content. So in the app you have to do what Amazon does and never show it by button or a "how to buy" button. And just for extra clarity, Apples policies only apply to digital goods. If you buy a real world service or physical item through an app Apple does not take a cut, but they also don't handle the payment. That's why Amazon doesn't have to pay Apple 30% when you buy a new TV from them.
  - Oletros 10y ago
    Tell me what's the difference between selling physical goods and digital services when none of them are stored or distributed by Apple

MBCook 10y ago

The answer is no. Not every user who uses some subscription thing on iOS has to pay Apple 30% cut. The deciding factor is whether or not Apple handles the subscription and billing. If you sign up through the app (and therefore the iTunes Store), and Apple does the billing, you have to pay the cut. If you sign up for a dropcam subscription OUTSIDE the App Store and then log into the app there is no cut. Example: I subscribe to both Hulu, Netflix, Comcast, and a few other things. I pay all of them directly. They all have free apps. Apple gets exactly 0% of my bills to them because I didn't sign up in the app. I get that in-app sign-up is INCREDIBLY convenient. But the fee does not apply regardless of where the subscription was purchased, which is what I read OP's question to be.