I am developing an iOS application where all payment related things are on existing website, our app don't have any payment related thing in it. A user adds payment details on website and select appropriate plan and can use it on both website and iOS app.
So please tell me that if i have nothing on app for using In-App purchase then it will be get approved on app store or get rejected just because app is not giving them their 30% share?
I need some expert advise...
I just read through that exact section of the developer guidelines, and it confirms that that is prohibited. A recent example of such apps being rejected: apps using Dropbox were being rejected (the Dropbox API had a button that could navigate users to their website to upgrade their account instead of having it take place in-app, where Apple would have gotten a percentage).
A quote from that article:
In case you’re wondering what the reasoning these apps are getting for rejection, here’s what Apple is responding with:
11.13
We found that your app provides access to external mechanisms for purchases or subscriptions to be used in the app, which is not in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines.
Specifically, your app enables to user to create accounts with Dropbox and Google.
Well that sucks. Apparently at some point when using an app that utilizes the Dropbox SDK, you can create an account for the service if you don’t already have one. At that point, there’s a link to a desktop version of Dropbox that lets you upgrade your account. That’s exactly what Apple isn’t a fan of.
My suggestion would be to make them available for purchase via an in-app purchase, charge 30% more for it (so you make the same amount as if the user made the purchase on the web or on Android), but make the user's job post last for 30% more time. This isn't quite fair for you because, if you make $100 off John for an 30-day listing, you would still only make $100 off me for a 39-day listing (assuming I bought the listing via the iOS app). That said, there is no incentive for me to pay for the listing via the iOS app because I am paying $130 (30% more than John) for it and the additional days.
Best of luck.
http://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/05/02/apps-using-dropbox-are-being-rejected-because-apple-is-playing-hardball/
The link on App Store Review Guidelines mentions:
3.1.3(b) Multiplatform Services: Apps that operate across multiple platforms may allow users to access content, subscriptions, or features they have acquired
elsewhere, including consumable items in multi-platform games, provided those
items are also available as in-app purchases within the app. You must not directly or indirectly target iOS users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase, and your general communications about other purchasing methods must not discourage use of in-app purchase.
I am not sure how Netflix does this. New users cannot signup on iOS App, but can sign up on website, purchase subscriptions and use in iOS App.
Related
I developed an iOS app for my client which consists of three primary functionalities:
Masterclasses
Clever Closet
Vision Board
I have a website from where you can purchase the masterclasses. So, the Clever Closet and Vision Board are free of charge. You can login with the credentials from the website, but also you can register a new account (without access to masterclasses or external links to payments). Firstly, I tried to use buttons with external redirect to the website, but I found out this is not allowed so I removed them.
Right now, my app was rejected from the App Store submission based on:
Hello,
Thank you for your resubmission. Upon further review, we
identified an additional issue that needs your attention. See below
for more information.
If you have any questions, we are here to help. Reply to this message in App Store Connect and let us know.
Guideline
3.1.1 - Business - Payments - In-App Purchase We noticed that your app includes or accesses paid digital content, services, or functionality
by means other than in-app purchase, which is not appropriate for the
App Store. Specifically: Your app accesses digital content purchased
outside the app, such as memberships and courses, but that content
isn't available to purchase using in-app purchase.
Next Steps
The paid
digital content, services, or subscriptions included in or accessed by
your app must be available for purchase using in-app purchase.
Apps that offer paid digital services and content across multiple platforms
may allow customers to access the content they acquired outside the
app as long as it is also available for purchase using in-app
purchase. See Guideline 3.1.3(b) Multiplatform Services for more
information.
If you have any additional information to provide
regarding the digital content and services in your app and how the
guidelines apply to them, please reply to this message in App Store
Connect and let us know. If there is information you'd like us to
consider in our review of future submissions, please feel free to
include it in the App Review Information section of App Store Connect.
My client doesn't want to use in-app purchases, we are providing purchasing these masterclasses on our website. Isn't my app a Reader App?
3.1.3(a) “Reader” Apps: Apps may allow a user to access previously purchased content or content subscriptions (specifically: magazines,
newspapers, books, audio, music, and video). Reader apps may offer
account creation for free tiers, and account management functionality
for existing customers. Reader app developers may apply for the
External Link Account Entitlement to provide an informational link in
their app to a web site the developer owns or maintains responsibility
for in order to create or manage an account. Learn more about the
External Link Account Entitlement.
Also, I do not want to use the External Link Account Entitlement, so it should be simple. What do you think?
My app was finally approved, because I mentioned that is a Reader App using their guidelines, so I had right about it and regarding the fact that Apple try to force you to use their IAP!
I have a question about apple review system.
I have a website where user can subscribe to different plan through 3rd party (the subscription is linked to user’s account) to access to some content.
I have also an iOS application that not let user subscribe to this plan directly from the app (just an informative message to says user that subscription must be made from my website, and their is no redirection to my websites like spotify do it).
Is the application will be rejected because it’s not use In App Purchase ?
Thank you for answer
You should use In App purchase for this purpose. If you don't, your app might get rejected with the following response from Apple.
We noticed that your app contains a payment mechanism other than in-app purchase for digital content or to unlock features or functionality within your app, which is not appropriate for the App Store. In-app purchase is the only valid in-app payment mechanism for digital content.
Note: Continuing to hide functionality within your app or other dishonest acts may result in the removal of your apps from the App Store and termination of your Apple Developer Program membership and all associated memberships.
Next Steps
To resolve this issue, please remove all external or third-party payment mechanisms and implement in-app purchase to facilitate digital good transactions, including unlocking features or functionality within your app.
If you believe your use of an alternative payment mechanism is a permissible use case, please respond directly to this message in Resolution Center with detailed information.
you may visit it for further information and guidelines.
https://developer.apple.com/in-app-purchase/
I have an app which has some purchase option. However, I don't want to make it through the app itself. For that, I already have a website for the purchase.
So can I create a redirection page from my app to the respective webpage?
Will my app get rejected?
or is there a better solution?
It depends on what you are selling, if you are offering "Physical Goods and Services Outside of the App" you cannot use IAP and must use something else as described in the App Store Review Guidelines
3.1.5 (a) Physical Goods and Services Outside of the App: If your app enables people to purchase goods or services that will be consumed outside of the app, you must use purchase methods other than in-app purchase to collect those payments, such as Apple Pay or traditional credit card entry.
If not then you must use IAP and will be charged a 30% fee. However, if you are offering subscriptions this rate will drop down to 15% for users who have been subscribed for over 1 year. Check out Offering Subscriptions for more info if you are interested.
There isn’t any,
According to Apple’s official guidelines
If you want to unlock features or functionality within your app, (by way of example: subscriptions, in-game currencies, game levels, access to premium content, or unlocking a full version), you must use in-app purchase. Apps may use in-app purchase currencies to enable customers to “tip” digital content providers in the app. Apps and their metadata may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase.
You must use in-app purchases and Apple’s official API’s, if it’s not a physical item
Otherwise your app will be rejected
if you want to sell tokens/credits/gold coins/gems or whatever as consumables in a game they also must be through In App Purchase. Meanwhile for Physical elements that we brought from any e commence app that must should go through your requirement.
hope this work
for more info refer this link blog post describing it
Firstly, let me answer your question based on my experience(bad :( ) with Apple
So can I create a redirection page from my app to the respective webpage? - NO
Will my app get rejected? - YES
or is there a better solution? - Depend on types of app.
The In-App guidelines are recently updated with few more changes so it's depends on what kind of feature you are subscribing. For example:
3.1.4 Hardware-Specific Content: In limited circumstances, such as when features are dependent upon specific hardware to function, the
app may unlock that functionality without using in-app purchase (e.g.
an astronomy app that adds features when synced with a telescope).
To be honest, DON'T trust these exceptions and build your app based on this. In our case, app works exclusively based on a connected physical device device. After rejection from Apple, we appealed with this exception but we didn't hear from Apple for more than a month..!
Using subscription through website
Many thinks that they can get away In-app purchase by offering subscription through website and removing t from app. But Apple will still reject your app and confirmed with Apple team. If you are thinking about Spotify and Netflix cases, there is a category of apps it's only permitted called "Reader app". Please refer 3.1.3(a) of Apple guidelines.
I want to make a subscription to my app without using In App Purchase. Instead of it I want new user go to a web site from application and make a subscription with payment using few steps on web site.
Alos here are few steps how to implement it:
using UIWebView that will internally show subscription option from my site
using SFSafariViewController which also works without forcing leaving application.
Will Apple allow to do the subscription like this? Did someone face with the same situation.
You can offer subscriptions through your website, but your application is not allowed to refer to that website or to try directing users to your website, or your app will be rejected.
You can't do that.
https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/
11.12 Apps offering subscriptions must do so using IAP, Apple will share the same 70/30 revenue split with developers for these purchases, as set forth in the Program License Agreement
It's against the App Store Review Guidelines so your app will be rejected for trying to go around the IAP program.
NO - You have to use In-app purchase.You can not use any of the work-around but it's depend on what types of apps you are developing. Using website (previously purchased content) is only possible for limited cases.It's only permitted for Reader app, see 3.1.3(a) of in-app purchase guidelines.That's why Spotify and Netflix manage to do it but they fall under this category.
I have developed an app like money wallet (e.g. paytm), where user can request money to each other and transfer money to each others account. with every transaction of user, Admin will get some fixed percent commission.
As app is for one small town only,right now user will have to manually contact admin to load money in his wallet or to withdraw it.
I want to submit my app on iTunes store. I know to use any digital content, services, unlock features we need to use In App Purchase. And for any physical good we need to go with any other third party payment gateway.
So I am confused that will apple approve my app or not. Please help.
Thanks,
First, you never know if Apple will approve or not. The only way to know for sure is to submit and see what happens.
Your description of features sounds like you are probably taking the correct approach.
Its important to use In app purchase for unlocking content/features:
Apps that unlock or enable additional features or functionality
with mechanisms other than the App Store will be rejected
And equally for real world purchases to use something else:
Apps using IAP to purchase physical goods or goods and services used
outside of the App will be rejected
The complete guidelines can be found here https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#purchasing-currencies
And again, its Apples own words:
This is a living document, and new Apps presenting new questions may
result in new rules at any time. Perhaps your App will trigger this.
I tried to submit using paytm integration sdk, and after that my app got rejected
following is reply from App Store
Guideline 3.1.1 - Business - Payments - In-App Purchase
We noticed that your app or its metadata enables the purchase of content, services, or functionality in the app by means other than the in-app purchase API, which is not appropriate for the App Store.
Next Steps
While the payment system that you have included may conduct the transaction outside of the app, if the purchasable content, functionality, or services are intended to be used in the app, they must be purchased using in-app purchase, within the app - unless it is of the type referenced in guideline 3.1.3 of the App Store Review Guidelines.
Please see attached screenshots for details.
Since your App Store Connect status is Rejected, a new binary will be required.