Apple Introduces Subscription Codes for Developers

[MacRumors]

Apple today informed developers about an upcoming Subscription Code feature that's designed to allow developers to offer up discounted or free auto-renewable subscriptions to lure customers.

Later this year, you'll be able to acquire, retain, and win back subscribers with subscription offer codes: unique, alphanumeric codes that provide free or discounted prices for auto-renewable subscriptions. Provide your one-time use codes digitally or offline at physical events, alongside products, and more. Customers on iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 and later can redeem offer codes on the App Store, through a one-time code redemption URL, or within your app if you've implemented the presentCodeRedemptionSheet API.

Apple says that developers can give customers unique, alphanumeric codes that are one time use, provided at digital or physical events, alongside products, and more. Subscription codes are an iOS and iPadOS 14 feature and are coming later this year.

More information about Subscription Codes can be found on Apple's developer website.

Article Link: Apple Introduces Subscription Codes for Developers

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Apple is working very hard/busy behind the scenes. Hold on to the announcement release and press release folks.

 

[SDJim]

This is all free, right? I just get this for free?

 

[randolorian]

Just what Apple customers are asking for -- more ways to rent software.

 

[robE89]

I hope this will come to mac App Store as well.

 

[dvanwinkle]

What is this thing that they speak of, offline and "physical events". Are people still gathering together and *eek* handing things to other people?!

 

[Apple_Robert]

What is this thing that they speak of, offline and "physical events". Are people still gathering together and *eek* handing things to other people?!

I have read rumors to that effect.

This is a good business move by Apple. It will take more than a free code to “lure“ me.

 

[katbel]

Is Apple afraid of not earning enough...?!

 

[ruka.snow]

What is this thing that they speak of, offline and "physical events". Are people still gathering together and *eek* handing things to other people?!

It is off the before time. When people would even shake the hands of a stranger so they formed a connection. And when peoples faces were more than eyes.

 

[Rogifan]

Just what Apple customers are asking for -- more ways rent software.

Well it’s what Apple is asking for. They want developers on subscription models since they get a cut of it. 30% of a monthly fee is better than 30% of a one time purchase.

 

[HiVolt]

But will Apple still want 30% of a free subscription?

 

[Apple_Robert]

But will Apple still want 30% of a free subscription?

I have it on good authority from Jon Prosser and the MR BOT (theyay ) that Apple will still demand their 30%.

 

[Appleman3546]

I wonder if this is related to a prior article regarding Apple wanting to extend Apple TV+ free trials

 

[MikhailT]

It would be nice if there's a way to offer a permanent discount for certain users but this doesn't seem that useful for some developers who may want to offer loyalty discounts for long-term users. Let's say if my users have sub'ed to my app for two years, I'd love them to get the 15% discount that Apple already discounted their cut to.

Also, this sub code has limits too. Not bad but the seller should be able to control these limitations.

> 10 active offers per subscription. You can create a maximum of 150,000 codes per app per quarter.

 

[Shirasaki]

Is Apple afraid of not earning enough...?!

Apple wants to earn $100 trillion in the next year to pay Tim Cook’s food bill. /s

 

[coolfactor]

This is all free, right? I just get this for free?

Is Apple afraid of not earning enough...?!

1. Apple continues to invest into Research and Development to make the App Store *better* for developers. This costs money.
2. Developers complain about having to pay for new features and services.

Hey, I'm all for discussing adjustments to the 30%, but to expect Apple to operate without any revenues is unreasonable.

• Paid apps make revenue via store purchases.
• Free apps make revenue via ad impressions.
• Developers expect Apple to operate without revenues?

 

[tgwaste]

...except for Epic. -Apple.

lol

 

[filchermcurr]

"...able to acquire, retain, and win back subscribers..."

The wording of this makes me feel like the dirty, cheap commodity that I am.

 

[Cosmosent]

AAPL loves Subs, customers generally do NOT !

Ideally, AAPL would expand it so that "Day Pass-type" One Time Purchase (OTP) In-App Purchases (IAP) would ALSO qualify !

A Day Pass OTP IAP is perhaps the best strategy to get customers to upgrade to a higher-value OTP IAP, for example a "Pro : Unlock Everything" OTP IAP.

If a Day Pass OTP IAP could be offered (FREE) ANYWHERE, e.g., at the Beach, I believe many would jump on it !

BTW, I got the idea for the Day Pass OTP IAP from another App Dev who successfully challenged a Review decision; that made Headlines on certain websites last weekend, I beleive.

I consider it a great idea, & am moving forward with it as well.

A great catalyst for it, however, would be this new concept that Apple announced !

Hey Cook, OTP IAPs are NOT 2nd class citizens !

And, customers prefer them anyway !!

 

[thefourthpope]

From my first take, seems this could make a lot of sense with the App Clips or whatever it’s called — the cards they unveiled where you get a snippet of the app. Test it out, get a discount, think it iver, forget to cancel, get hooked into a subscription.

 

[LeadingHeat]

I’m just here for these comments. 😂🍿

side note, this is going to be very very good for the consumer I’d say. As long as enough developers jump on board.

 

[macfacts]

Just what Apple customers are asking for -- more ways rent software.

But you aren't apple's customer, the software devs are. You're the product. You're a customer of the software devs. Apple is selling access to their iPhone customer base, for a 30% cut

 

[ian87w]

Wait a second. This is Apple providing more options for developers to gain revenues, and people are calling Apple being greedy? Seriously? You don’t want Apple to help developers? Apple is not the one forcing devs to go with subscription model. It’s the developers’ own decisions to go with that model as a way to continue maintaining the software. Or do you guys want to go back to the model of perpetual license software that cost hundreds to thousands of dollars?

I don’t get it.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

AAPL loves Subs, customers generally do NOT !

Customers that know and like the developers of their apps want to see the developer able to continue workin on the app. If that means 5 bucks a month, they’re happy to pay that (just like over on Patreon).

I have an app that has an option to remove ads for $2.99. I DON’T pay it because I’m sure they’d get much more over time from me from the ad views.

 

[Ixon2001]

The problem with subs is that they all add up, i currently pay for Apple music £9.99 a month, Netflix £8.99 a month & Amazon Prime £7.99 a month that me paying for these 3 services total cost of £26.97 a month on top of what i pay for cable TV inc broadband & the TV licence :/.

Now if apps start to go on a sub based system as Apple is trying to push dev's to, rather than a one off payment system, more so for the apps I've already paid for in the past I will be very pissed.

Even if the subs are cheap they eventually all mount up and not everybody can afford paying subs for everything & will alienate those that are on a limited budget.