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Apple does not require that subscription fees be paid through in app purchases. You have always been able to collect subscription fees on your own website and

Apple does not require that subscription fees be paid through in app purchases. You have always been able to collect subscription fees on your own website and distribute your app for free. >TechCrunch learned this week that Netflix is testing a payment method that bypasses iTunes in 33 countries. Until Sept. 30, new or lapsed users in select European, Latin American and Asian markets will be unable to pay using iTunes. Instead -- like with Spotify -- they will be redirected to Netflix's website to enter payment details directly with the video streaming service. In May, Netflix made a similar move prohibiting new subscribers from paying via Google Play. https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8471988/spotify-netflix-bypassing-apple-app-store-billing-charges https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8471988/spotify-...

dogma1138 7y ago
With a small caveat that you can’t have any in-app purchases if you do so. Which is why Prime Video on the App Store doesn’t allow any rentals for example.
dannyw 7y ago
This is not true; at least, you cannot redirect within the app. Spotify had its updates rejected when it had a flow that ended all IAPs, and redirected people to a web browser. The kindle app offers no way to purchase for this reason.
- GeekyBear 7y ago
  That is a separate issue from the original claim that Apple forces you to use their in app payment system for subscription fees and pay them a cut. Neither Google or Apple do that.
  - kristofferR 7y ago
    I'm not sure you read the previous comments - Apple in fact forces you to use their in app payment system for subscription fees and pay them a cut, or be left with no in app payment system at all.
    - theturtletalks 7y ago
      Didn’t they try to get Amazon to pay a fee for each item sold through their app?
      - ec109685 7y ago
        Only for digital purchases.
    - GeekyBear 7y ago
      The choice is to use the in app payment system (and pay Apple a cut) or to set up your own payment website and pay Apple nothing. Of course, even if you set up your own payment infrastructure you are going to be paying somebody a cut. Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and Stripe et al. are going to take a cut of any transactions they process. You have to decide if the fee they charge is worth the additional sales accepting that method of payment might bring in.
      - Shebanator 7y ago
        The key thing is that you can set up a separate website for payments with iOS devices, but you can't embed or link to that website within your iOS app. I've seen apps rejected because their technical support website was linked from the app and the header of that website got you to the payment website after like 10 clicks.
        9HZZRfNlpR 7y ago
        Amazon's Audible does that, I went bonkers trying to buy something and couldn't figure out I have to use browser.
      - root_axis 7y ago
        Obviously Apple can't prohibit you from having a website on the internet. The issue is collecting payments on their platform.
    - inlined 7y ago
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
- evanwalsh 7y ago
  I can verify this from recent Apple dealings. A subscription for a single person that doesn't use in-app purchases is a no-go.
  - scarface74 7y ago
    Yet and still there are dozens of apps that force subscriptions outside of the store. Why can I never find a documented case of Apple banning apps that require subscriptions outside of the App Store?
- lerchmo 7y ago
  always thought that was weird that I couldn't shop on the iphone app... now I know.
on_and_off 7y ago
That is the complete opposite of my experience. I have worked for a major music streaming service for a long time and publishing the app on iOS has been a constant pain. Sometimes the app was not updated for months because apple would not validate it. Each time the source of contention was that you could subscribe without using apple solutions (paying them) and that the subscriptions covered all platforms.
freyr 7y ago
The point is, users can not be redirected from your app to any out-of-app purchase system by any means, according to Apple's App Store Review Guidelines (https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/): >> 2.3.2. If you want to unlock features or functionality within your app, (by way of example: subscriptions, in-game currencies, game levels, access to premium content, or unlocking a full version), you must use in-app purchase. Apps may not use their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality, such as license keys, augmented reality markers, QR codes, etc. Apps and their metadata may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase. Your app will be booted off the App Store if you try to redirect users from your app to an out-of-app purchase system Netflix and Spotify do not actively redirect users to their own payment systems (in the U.S., at least). They do not provide any links, nor do they offer any instructions on how to sign up outside the app. They just say this: Netflix: "You can't sign up for Netflix in the app. We know it's a hassle. Join and come back to start watching TV shows and movies." Spotify: "You can't upgrade to Premium in the app. We know, it's not ideal." The user is left completely on their own to figure out the subscription process. Netflix and Spotify are apparently big enough, and have enough consumer awareness of their services, that users will put in the effort to go sign up. For your app, this is almost certainly not the case.

dogma1138 7y ago

With a small caveat that you can’t have any in-app purchases if you do so. Which is why Prime Video on the App Store doesn’t allow any rentals for example.

dannyw 7y ago

This is not true; at least, you cannot redirect within the app. Spotify had its updates rejected when it had a flow that ended all IAPs, and redirected people to a web browser. The kindle app offers no way to purchase for this reason.

GeekyBear 7y ago
That is a separate issue from the original claim that Apple forces you to use their in app payment system for subscription fees and pay them a cut. Neither Google or Apple do that.
- kristofferR 7y ago
  I'm not sure you read the previous comments - Apple in fact forces you to use their in app payment system for subscription fees and pay them a cut, or be left with no in app payment system at all.
  - theturtletalks 7y ago
    Didn’t they try to get Amazon to pay a fee for each item sold through their app?
    - ec109685 7y ago
      Only for digital purchases.
  - GeekyBear 7y ago
    The choice is to use the in app payment system (and pay Apple a cut) or to set up your own payment website and pay Apple nothing. Of course, even if you set up your own payment infrastructure you are going to be paying somebody a cut. Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and Stripe et al. are going to take a cut of any transactions they process. You have to decide if the fee they charge is worth the additional sales accepting that method of payment might bring in.
    - Shebanator 7y ago
      The key thing is that you can set up a separate website for payments with iOS devices, but you can't embed or link to that website within your iOS app. I've seen apps rejected because their technical support website was linked from the app and the header of that website got you to the payment website after like 10 clicks.
      - 9HZZRfNlpR 7y ago
        Amazon's Audible does that, I went bonkers trying to buy something and couldn't figure out I have to use browser.
    - root_axis 7y ago
      Obviously Apple can't prohibit you from having a website on the internet. The issue is collecting payments on their platform.
  - inlined 7y ago
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
evanwalsh 7y ago
I can verify this from recent Apple dealings. A subscription for a single person that doesn't use in-app purchases is a no-go.
- scarface74 7y ago
  Yet and still there are dozens of apps that force subscriptions outside of the store. Why can I never find a documented case of Apple banning apps that require subscriptions outside of the App Store?
lerchmo 7y ago
always thought that was weird that I couldn't shop on the iphone app... now I know.

on_and_off 7y ago

That is the complete opposite of my experience. I have worked for a major music streaming service for a long time and publishing the app on iOS has been a constant pain. Sometimes the app was not updated for months because apple would not validate it. Each time the source of contention was that you could subscribe without using apple solutions (paying them) and that the subscriptions covered all platforms.

freyr 7y ago

The point is, users can not be redirected from your app to any out-of-app purchase system by any means, according to Apple's App Store Review Guidelines (https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/): >> 2.3.2. If you want to unlock features or functionality within your app, (by way of example: subscriptions, in-game currencies, game levels, access to premium content, or unlocking a full version), you must use in-app purchase. Apps may not use their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality, such as license keys, augmented reality markers, QR codes, etc. Apps and their metadata may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase. Your app will be booted off the App Store if you try to redirect users from your app to an out-of-app purchase system Netflix and Spotify do not actively redirect users to their own payment systems (in the U.S., at least). They do not provide any links, nor do they offer any instructions on how to sign up outside the app. They just say this: Netflix: "You can't sign up for Netflix in the app. We know it's a hassle. Join and come back to start watching TV shows and movies." Spotify: "You can't upgrade to Premium in the app. We know, it's not ideal." The user is left completely on their own to figure out the subscription process. Netflix and Spotify are apparently big enough, and have enough consumer awareness of their services, that users will put in the effort to go sign up. For your app, this is almost certainly not the case.