9to5Mac
By Filipe Espósito
September 2, 2021
After several complaints from developers, Apple has just made a major announcement in which the company confirms that it will finally let developers redirect users to sign up for services on websites instead of using the App Store’s in-app purchases system.
To ensure a safe and seamless user experience, the App Store’s guidelines require developers to sell digital services and subscriptions using Apple’s in-app payment system. Because developers of reader apps do not offer in-app digital goods and services for purchase, Apple agreed with the JFTC to let developers of these apps share a single link to their website to help users set up and manage their account.
Although Apple mentions that the changes only affect “reader” apps, the company emphasizes that this includes apps that offer content subscriptions for digital magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video.
The App Store guidelines will be updated in early 2022, when changes to subscription and in-app purchases rules will take effect. The company will continue to promote its own payment system as the most efficient and secure for developers and users, but it will no longer prevent apps from linking users to “an external website to make purchases.”
It’s worth noting that, at least for now, the changes do not apply to regular in-app purchases or apps. This means that developers will still have to offer their apps and content through the App Store, but now subscriptions can be made using other payment methods.