Apple Introduces App Store Monthly Subscriptions With 12-Month Commitment

[WarmWinterHat]

Not necessarily because most likely you can cancel the 12 month commitment and then the app stops working at the end of that month. Also it's up to the developer if they want to offer a 12 month commitment or not.

That wouldn't make any sense. The discount is offered because the developer is expecting a year's worth of revenue.

 

[Hajj.david]

Not necessarily because most likely you can cancel the 12 month commitment and then the app stops working at the end of that month. Also it's up to the developer if they want to offer a 12 month commitment or not.

A 12 month commitment means you agree to subscribe for 12 months, if you want flexibility you do month to month. Thats like saying "on month 6 of your apartment lease you can just leave and they will let you walk out before the next month"

 

[usersince86]

Remember when we bought CDs and DVDs?

Now, we pay Spotify and Netflix monthly subscriptions.

Software is the same, especially since it's digital (Adobe, Apple, MS, etc).

 

[aidler]

Subscriptions of that kind are, in general, a net negative for consumers. I can only hope that, in addition, a subscription option has to be offered that can be canceled on a monthly basis.

 

[Corefile]

Nope. Subscriptions are bad for your health.

 

[JohnC1959]

Subscriptions of that kind are, in general, a net negative for consumers. I can only hope that, in addition, a subscription option has to be offered that can be canceled on a monthly basis.

That will still be the case for pretty much all apps. It's been the case that basically all have it monthly with some having he option of yearly for a small discount. This is just adding an ADDITIONAL way of paying the yearly versions.

 

[icwhatudidthere]

Not necessarily because most likely you can cancel the 12 month commitment and then the app stops working at the end of that month. Also it's up to the developer if they want to offer a 12 month commitment or not.

The lead image has the details. If you cancel, you keep paying the monthly fee until the commitment is fulfilled.

 

[HMI]

I’m surprised we don’t just create an Apple Account, sign-in, select which devices, software, and services we want, and add a credit card for a single $/month or $/year subscription for all things Apple. Then just swap for newer devices, and update the subscription pricing as needed. Maybe include a cute calendar that tracks all your previous and upcoming payments with each remaining balance listed clearly.

 

[JohnC1959]

I’m surprised we don’t just create an Apple Account, sign-in, select which devices, software, and services we want, and add a credit card for a single $/month or $/year subscription for all things Apple. Then just swap for newer devices, and update the subscription pricing as needed. Maybe include a cute calendar that tracks all your previous and upcoming payments with each remaining balance listed clearly.

That's not too far from how things are now.

 

[klasma]

The remaining fourth option that is still missing now is paying annually, but being able to cancel monthly (with corresponding reimbursement).

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I’m surprised we don’t just create an Apple Account, sign-in, select which devices, software, and services we want, and add a credit card for a single $/month or $/year subscription for all things Apple. Then just swap for newer devices, and update the subscription pricing as needed. Maybe include a cute calendar that tracks all your previous and upcoming payments with each remaining balance listed clearly.

No thank you, but if you want that then cool, just don't make it the only way to go. I'm a one and done kinda guy.

 

[gummybear2026]

A 12 month commitment means you agree to subscribe for 12 months, if you want flexibility you do month to month. Thats like saying "on month 6 of your apartment lease you can just leave and they will let you walk out before the next month"

Developers should charge the same price whether you sign up monthly or yearly if they are smart. So then you don't have to worry about the 12 month commitment.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Guess I'm becoming a luddite, but I've basically stopped using the App Store at all. I'd be fine with just the default apps at this point. Chances are, you're paying for some vibe coded slop that actually provides negative value instead of enriching your life.

This is the other thing going on that's converging to make all of this a big "heck no", from me at least.

 

[avanpelt]

This option apparently isn’t coming to the U.S. or Singapore right out of the gate. The last part of the article:

Notably, it appears the United States and Singapore will be excluded from these subscriptions for the time being, and there's no word on when they might roll out in these markets.

 

[JohnC1959]

Developers should charge the same price whether you sign up monthly or yearly if they are smart. So then you don't have to worry about the 12 month commitment.

The whole point of the yearly is to get the commitment. The point is to trade your commitment for a slightly lower price. After all, if you don't want that you have the monthly option still.

 

[diblasio]

Great. Current prices will become the discounted annual rate because why not? Ugh.

 

[JohnC1959]

Great. Current prices will become the discounted annual rate because why not? Ugh.

So you wish they didn't add this new paying option because without it the rates are less likely to go up?

 

[Nickerbocker]

I would rather just keep paying the whole year up front. I hope that stays as an option for my apps that I do actually spend money on.

I think this is a fine option so long as the terms are clear. I see a lot of people not realizing that they are locked into a full years worth of payments when they go to cancel their subscriptions because they aren't using the software anymore.

 

[haydesigner]

Outrage is what many live for. It feels good and is empowering.

I fully agree with the first sentence.

And disagree with the second sentence.

 

[danysl]

This way they can raise the cost a few times per year, which they couldnt do if you paid for the whole year.

 

[JohnC1959]

This way they can raise the cost a few times per year, which they couldnt do if you paid for the whole year.

No, that's not how it would work. It's the same as the existing annual subscriptions where the price is set when you start the year. The only difference is paying in monthly installments vs a lump sum.

 

[Zenman12]

As much as I dislike subscriptions these are a good option for affordability reasons in an era where budgets are getting tighter across the board.

As an end user, you can get the benefits of an “annual” sub’s discount but with the budgetibility of a month to month payment which might be easier to some people than a large upfront payment.

If they offer discount. I sent feedback multiple times for Apple to have iCloud+ subscription with the last month free. $10.89 for the .99 cent deal.

 

[Zenman12]

What Apple is introducing is yearly subscriptions with monthly payments. To me, that is a rather big difference.

-kp

I could only do lump sum. The whole point is to pay it and not have a fixed installment plan. Like some loan. I hate that.

 

[indefinite]

Putting my $20 Apple Cash card on these 12-month subscriptions immediately!

 

[Iridescent Caterpillar]

Nope, I hate it. Complete Adobe style predatory garbage.

This will incentivize developers to be tricky, instead of being able to just subscribe for a single month they will only offer a yearly option in a lump sum and an "affordable" yearly commitment paid per month.

Looks like we get at least one more world ******ifying act by Tim Cook before he steps down.