Spotify finally breaks free from Apple’s payment grip
Spotify’s iPhone app has been updated to allow users to pay for plans on an external site without restrictions, following Apple’s approval of the change. The update, version 9.0.40, is currently rolling out on the App Store.
This change makes Spotify the first major app to support direct links for US users to pay for plans outside the app. Apple’s previous rules restricted developers from advertising and linking to external payment options, but the company has been forced to change its policies following a court order in its ongoing case against Epic Games.
According to Spotify spokesperson Jeanne Moran, the update will “finally allow us to freely show clear pricing information and links to purchase, fostering transparency and choice for U.S. consumers.” Moran stated that the update will enable Spotify to offer consumers “lower prices, more control, and easier access to the Spotify experience.”
The updated app will include details on promotional pricing and subscription plans available directly from Spotify’s website, where transactions won’t be subject to Apple’s 30 percent service charge on in-app payments. Previously, Apple charged a 27 percent fee on external payments and forbade developers from using buttons or mentioning cheaper pricing outside the app.
The change comes after Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ordered Apple to end all fees, design restrictions, and link limitations on external payments. Spotify has long been a vocal critic of Apple’s payment policies, with Moran previously describing the external payment policy as “outrageous” and stating that it “flies in the face of the court’s efforts to enable greater competition and user choice.”
Spotify submitted the update to Apple’s App Store yesterday, testing Apple’s new rules. The development marks a significant milestone for developers and entrepreneurs who want to build and compete on a more level playing field, according to Moran.