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Ask HN: Does Apple make any money off free apps like Uber?
If not, what prevents an app from having an pseudo in-app purchases that can skirt Apple's cut from app store purchases?
- a3voices 11y agoNo, they don't. Last time I checked, the terms state that Apple doesn't take a cut for any offline service or products. To answer your second question, your app could be shut down at any time if Apple finds out you are skirting their system.
- lentil 11y agoIf your app provides a way to buy something that could use an in-app purchase (e.g. not physical goods), but you try to use your own method of doing so, then Apple will reject your app during review. The review guidelines specifically disallow doing that.
- jasonkester 11y agoYes. They're commoditizing their complement. As a hardware manufacture, their platform is more valuable the more apps are available for it. A phone with three apps will not sell as many units as a phone with a million apps. It's in Apple's best interest to drive the cost of apps down and the number of apps up. The more 3rd party companies they can get building free things that add value to their platform, the better. It's the reason that $1.99 is "a lot to pay for a game", and why the iPhone makes Apple so much money.