iOS 26.5 beta 1 arrived today for developer testing, and Apple’s release notes indicate that the update will offer new App Store options for in-app subscriptions.
Apps may soon offer ‘monthly with 12-month commitment’ subscription plans
The first iOS 26.5 beta is here, and so far changes seem few.
There’s a new Apple Maps ‘Suggested Places’ feature, and the return of end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging, but not a lot else.
However, Apple’s iOS and iPadOS 26.5 beta release notes mention what sounds like a forthcoming new in-app subscription option.
Under the ‘New Features’ heading, several bullet points reference a new subscription plan that would let users be billed monthly, but with a 12-month commitment.
Essentially, it sounds like an annual plan, but split into 12 monthly payments—presumably with a discount for the upfront commitment.
From the release notes for developers:
- “You can read pricing information for subscriptions that have a monthly with 12-month commitment billing plan configuration…”
- “You can specify the billing plan type to use for subscriptions that have a monthly with 12-month commitment billing plan configuration…”
It is unknown whether Apple plans to replace the current annual plan option with this new ‘monthly with 12-month commitment’ plan, or add it as an all-new tier.
In any case, with subscriptions being so common today, it makes sense to provide developers and users more options.
Would you use the new monthly with 12-month commitment option if it came with a discount? Let us know in the comments.
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