Apple IAP Restrictions

Discussions center on Apple's App Store policies mandating in-app purchases for subscriptions and digital goods with a 30% cut, while prohibiting apps from informing users about cheaper external payment options or alternatives.

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TFA e.g arstechnica.com apps.ars twitter.com IAP netflix.com QR imore.com PR app apple app store payment purchases apps store subscription purchase 30

Sample Comments

a_dabbler Aug 13, 2024 View on HN

Afaik from other discussions of this Apple do not allow apps to inform users that they can pay cheaper outside the app

jvandenbroeck Jun 23, 2011 View on HN

Looks pretty cool, but wouldn't apple screw you? I don't think they'll like this, they want users to buy with the app store.

johnmarcus Jun 18, 2020 View on HN

Hey should just offer to subscribe, and just make clear there is a 30% Apple tax for paying through Apple, and is cheaper if signed up through the web. Consumers whom want to pay the Apple tax will, those whom would sign up online would still do so. I dont see the big deal here.

pornel Jan 15, 2020 View on HN

Apple made themselves an exclusive payment provider for all iOS in-app subscriptions and payments for digital products. Merely mentioning anywhere that cheaper payment options exist is an AppStore ToS violation.

an_opabinia Jul 25, 2021 View on HN

Show me a traditional App Store app that doesn’t pay 30% of IAP to Apple.

speleding Aug 14, 2020 View on HN

In-app purchases are processed by apple as well.

simion314 Apr 30, 2021 View on HN

Is not about the percentage, are you aware that you can't even mention you can buy a subscription from the website in the iOS application? Apple does not allow alternative app stores and is actively blocking you to inform of alternative methods of payment.

ceejayoz Jun 16, 2020 View on HN

No, it doesn't.https://twitter.com/dhh/status/1272976901762478080"We noticed that your app allows customers to access content, subscriptions, or features they have purchased elsewhere, but those items were not available as in-app purchases within the app.""Since the email services offered in your app are not the type listed under guideline

JMTQp8lwXL Aug 22, 2020 View on HN

Apple is not letting apps do that anymore. You can have payment through your web app, but you must also permit payment via the iOS app, where Apple gets 30%.

HDThoreaun Feb 7, 2024 View on HN

It's for subscription services I believe. The case brought up often is Netflix which is forced to allow people to sign up on their game apps for the regular price even though apple takes 30% of the revenue from those users.