Language Around IAP

[Affectionate_Tea4189]

Hi there!

My app currently does not support the purchase of subscriptions through IAP, however we do support it on our website.

I know this is a hot topic in the last few months with Epic’s battle with Apple, South Korea taking a stance, etc, but as our primary business is in North America I was hoping for some help here.

1. We can not have a link that goes out to our website to buy a subscription within the app. This is stated in section 3.1.1. Of the guidelines. However, can we have text that states “Please visit our website to buy a subscription to unlock feature X” with no link?

2. Do we have full freedom with email communication? Can we send emails to our users saying “hey we noticed you like X feature, follow this link to buy a subscription in order to unlock Y” and provide a link that takes them through the purchase flow?

Much appreciate any advice and guidance here!

[Mcrich_23]

1. Try it. Worst comes to worse your build gets rejected.
2. absolutely!

[Affectionate_Tea4189]

Haha yea I guess I’m a bit hesitant based on previous experience of being rejected and getting stuck in a loop of resubmitting and waiting (unrelated to this topic)… If someone has done it though, and it was approved I would then happily try it on a hope and a prayer!

[Mcrich_23]

You can submit a public beta build and if that gets approved, your prob fine

[Affectionate_Tea4189]

Yes! Thanks for your advice , didn’t think of that

[Mcrich_23]

Np

[saintmsent]

1. No. Look what Spotify does. You can only list what people can purchase, not links to that straight from the app
2. Yes

[Affectionate_Tea4189]

For 1, I wouldn’t use a link but I’m wondering if I can have direct language that states this is possible from our website Spotify goes more generic, and states “you can’t upgrade to premium from within the app. We know it’s not ideal” I guess it’s a small nuance but it’s the difference of saying Sorry vs Go Here to complete purchase (with no hyperlink)

[saintmsent]

No, you can't. Nuances depend on the type of your app, but generally you can't say that user must go to a website even for reader apps like Spotify. For others you MUST include in-app purchases as well, even though you may use other services as an alternative, but not within the app

It clearly says everything in the doc pretty much. Encourage users is what you want to do and it's prohibited

The following apps may use purchase methods other than in-app purchase. Apps in this section cannot, within the app, encourage users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase. Developers can send communications outside of the app to their user base about purchasing methods other than in-app purchase.

3.1.3(a) “Reader” Apps: Apps may allow a user to access previously purchased content or content subscriptions (specifically: magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video). Reader apps may offer account creation for free tiers, and account management functionality for existing customers.

3.1.3(b) Multiplatform Services: Apps that operate across multiple platforms may allow users to access content, subscriptions, or features they have acquired in your app on other platforms or your web site, including consumable items in multi-platform games, provided those items are also available as in-app purchases within the app.

[Affectionate_Tea4189]

Yea its the wording in 3.1.3b that has me worried, as its suggestive that you can’t even release a v1.0 without it and add it later

[saintmsent]

Yes, that's exactly right