Apple Announces New In-App Purchase API

Apple yesterday announced a new API to expand in-app purchase capabilities on the App Store, providing developers with new ways to support large content catalogs, creator-driven experiences, and customizable subscription models.

iOS App Store General Feature Black

The new "Advanced Commerce API" addresses three broad use cases:

  • Apps offering extensive libraries of one-time purchase content, such as audiobooks or educational courses, that require frequent updates.
  • Apps that provide access to creator-led content, enabling users to purchase either one-time or renewable subscriptions tied to specific creators or collections.
  • Subscription services that offer optional add-ons, such as additional channels, sports content, or region-specific options, as renewable purchases within a broader subscription framework.

These use-cases can now more flexibly leverage Apple's payment infrastructure, which includes end-to-end payment processing, tax compliance, and customer service integration. Apple details the eligibility criteria for developers applying to use the API in a new support document.

Apple's announcement appears to be part of a broader effort to refine its ‌App Store‌ policies following scrutiny, particularly in the European Union. This particular API appears to be a direct response to challenges faced by apps with unconventional monetization models, such as Patreon, an online platform that enables creators to offer paid memberships to their audiences. In 2022, Apple required Patreon to adopt the ‌App Store‌'s billing system for in-app purchases.

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.4 With Mail Categorization and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that launched in September. macOS Sequoia 15.4 comes two months after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run macOS 15. With...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...
Magic Mouse Green

What to Expect From the Magic Mouse 3

Saturday March 29, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Apple is reportedly working on a new Magic Mouse. Below, we recap what to expect. The two key rumors for the Magic Mouse 3 so far include a relocated charging port, along with a more ergonomic design. It was briefly rumored that the Magic Mouse 3 would also feature voice control, but that was misinterpreted information. Relocated Charging Port While the Magic Mouse switched from...

Top Rated Comments

McWetty Avatar
10 weeks ago
Probably not a popular opinion, but I go out of my way to avoid software that has IAP or a subscription. I’m happy to pay for a sub that calls data from other sources or pays licensing fees (Carrot, Parcel, Music+), but almost everything else either needs to be an up front cost or pay for an upgrade. I switched from Adobe to Affinity for that reason.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrono1081 Avatar
10 weeks ago

Just give us upgrade pricing! Stop ruining software with IAP!
As much as I hate IAPs myself it's literally the only way anymore to monetize software. People just don't want to pay for software anymore and a lot of software relies on various data APIs to use, those API's aren't free and cost money and those prices usually go up with app popularity.

A developer can't rely on a single stand-alone purchase covering the cost of those APIs for the life of the app, hence subscription services are the answer.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
QuarterSwede Avatar
10 weeks ago
Or you can be like some podcasters I listen to and literally direct your audience away from spending 30% more by buying on Apple’s platform and instead buy from their patreon directly. Apple is starting to have a real issue here with those types of platforms.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
10 weeks ago
There's no good reason to not support both subscriptions and upgrade pricing

Different models are better for different software products and markets

Apple has chosen to support only the method that's better for them (recurring revenue)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
robertosh Avatar
10 weeks ago
After almost 4 years of work I'm closing to release my first ever app (game). It will have no ads, no micro-transactions, no data collection, no internet connection needed. Free to test, one-time payment to unlock it all, forever. I know that is not the most profitable way, but it's the most honest one. I think is also in developers hands to change the current unfriendly ecosystem in the mobile app stores. I will start with my little stone.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarAnalogy Avatar
10 weeks ago

As much as I hate IAPs myself it's literally the only way anymore to monetize software. People just don't want to pay for software anymore and a lot of software relies on various data APIs to use, those API's aren't free and cost money and those prices usually go up with app popularity.

A developer can't rely on a single stand-alone purchase covering the cost of those APIs for the life of the app, hence subscription services are the answer.
Right but upgrade pricing solves a lot of the same problem, especially on the Mac. Some software is absolutely worth paying for, but not worth paying forever. I would also happily pay upgrade pricing for substantial upgrades.

IAP is now the only way because it’s been made the only way. I understand what you’re saying about cloud services and monthly recurring revenue and all that. But it’s not the only option, and Apple has come out in the past with their excuses for why they don’t support upgrade pricing.

It’s more about Apple’s recurring revenue than the developers.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)