Apple Adds Universal Purchases for iOS, tvOS and macOS Apps in Xcode 11.4

Wednesday February 5, 2020 10:41 am PST by Juli Clover
The new Xcode 11.4 beta update, released today alongside the iOS 13.4, tvOS 13.4 and macOS Catalina 10.15.4 betas, includes support for universal purchases, allowing developers to bundle iOS apps, tvOS apps, and Mac apps together for one purchase price.

This will allow developers who make a Mac app and an iOS app to sell them in a single bundle, something that has not previously been possible.
Starting in March 2020, you’ll be able to distribute iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS versions of your app as a universal purchase, allowing customers to enjoy your app and in‑app purchases across platforms by purchasing only once. You can choose to create a new app for these platforms using a single app record in App Store Connect or add platforms to your existing app record. Get started by building and testing your apps using a single bundle ID with Xcode 11.4 beta.
The change will be convenient for both developers and customers, as iOS and macOS users will be able to make one purchase for a cross-platform app. Developers will also be able to create discounted Mac and iOS bundles for the first time.

According to Apple, universal purchase is enabled by default for Mac Catalyst apps that are created using the Xcode 11.4 software. New Mac Catalyst apps will use the same bundle identifier as an iOS app.

Apple says that ‌App Store‌ categories will also be unified across the ‌App Store‌ and Mac App Store to align with the new changes and to make apps more discoverable.
- You'll be able to select the following categories for iOS apps: "Developer Tools" and "Graphics & Design".
- You'll be able to select the following categories for macOS apps: "Books", "Food & Drink", "Magazines & Newspapers", "Navigation", and "Shopping".
- The "Photography" and "Video" categories on the ‌Mac App Store‌ will be combined into "Photo & Video". Mac apps and pending updates with the - "Photography" or "Video" category selected in ‌App Store‌ Connect will be moved automatically to the combined category.
- "Kids" will no longer be a subcategory within "Games" on the ‌Mac App Store‌.
Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV users will have access to the universal app bundle options when the new updates become public.


[ 26 comments ]

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zorinlynx
2 weeks ago
I wonder how many developers will actually partake in this. For example, RadarScope is a lot more expensive on MacOS than iOS, and surely there are heavy users of the app that have the premium subscription on both platforms. They'd be leaving money on the table if they were to do this.

I'm all for this, of course, but don't expect a rush of developers pushing the button.
Rating: 5 Votes
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PlayUltimate
2 weeks ago
Great idea. It will make it easier to make the initial purchase and to understand the combined cost of the various app components (eg. Things3)
Rating: 4 Votes
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katbel
2 weeks ago
Good idea, but I hope they will keep the possibility to buy separately : sometime I need just the app for the iOS or mac, price wise too
Rating: 3 Votes
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miniroll32
2 weeks ago
Oh OmniGroup will have a field day with this.

All they have to do is add the separate prices together for one nice little package. So about £300 then.
Rating: 2 Votes
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PastaPrimav
2 weeks ago
Makes sense but, considering how little any developers seem to care about Marzipan apps, this isn't the big news it should be.

Turns out you can't just use a Touch app on a KBM interface. Or vice versa. Who knew? Oh wait...Apple knew. Before they were overrun by whatever toxic culture is in charge now.
Rating: 2 Votes
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bluecoast
2 weeks ago
Ok, this is great.

Next up upgrades, I hope.
Rating: 2 Votes
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CanadianGuy
2 weeks ago


I bought an iPhone App months ago, the developer gave me the watch app away for free, so in a way this has been possible before this news.

I might have missed something, is watchOs included???


Yes, it's always been possible to include watchOS apps with iOS apps (actually having separate watchOS apps is a newish feature). The change today is that now developers can include macOS and tvOS apps in with iOS apps as a single purchase.
Rating: 2 Votes
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CarlJ
2 weeks ago


Yes, it's always been possible to include watchOS apps with iOS apps (actually having separate watchOS apps is a newish feature). The change today is that now developers can include macOS and tvOS apps in with iOS apps as a single purchase.

Indeed. iOS/iPadOS and tvOS apps that were the "same" app already had this connection too. It's really bringing macOS into the family that's the new thing here. And it is a welcome thing.
Rating: 2 Votes
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guzhogi
2 weeks ago
Now if only more file types could be used with iCloud. My dad's a writer, and said he wants the app Scivener, which has both an iOS & Mac versions. It would be great if he could get both versions in a single purchase, and then easily go back and forth between his iMac & iPad when writing something. Unfortunately, Scrivener doesn't support saving to iCloud as the files are "too complex." Dropbox & using iTunes to transfer is fine, though. Also there's a Windows version, so I don't know how that affects the file type.


Good idea, but I hope they will keep the possibility to buy separately : sometime I need just the app for the iOS or mac, price wise too

I agree; not everyone has both platforms, so why pay $5 for both versions when you can pay $3 for just the one you need?
Rating: 1 Votes
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CrazyForApple
2 weeks ago
FINALLY!!!!!!
Rating: 1 Votes

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