Apple Backs Down on In-App Subscription Guidelines

Apple has reversed course on some of its in-app subscription guidelines, notes MacRumors. It no longer requires that subscriptions be sold via in-app purchase if they are available outside the app. Neither does it require in-app subscriptions to be made available at the same price as outside purchases.

The only catch left is that applications can not use a button that sends customers to an external link to purchase subscriptions without offering the same purchase in-app. However, developers can now charge a premium for purchases sold in-app to make up for loses incurred by Apple's 30% cut.

Old Guidelines
11.13 Apps can read or play approved content (magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, video) that is sold outside of the app, for which Apple will not receive any portion of the revenues, provided that the same content is also offered in the app using IAP at the same price or less than it is offered outside the app. This applies to both purchased content and subscriptions.


New Guidelines
11.14 Apps can read or play approved content (specifically magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video) that is subscribed to or purchased outside of the app, as long as there is no button or external link in the app to purchase the approved content. Apple will not receive any portion of the revenues for approved content that is subscribed to or purchased outside of the app

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