Family Sharing for App Store Subscriptions Now Available

[MacRumors]

iPhone and iPad users who share apps with their families through Apple's Family Sharing feature can now share subscription apps as well.

In the App Store settings under "Subscriptions," there's a "Share New Subscriptions" setting that appears to be enabled automatically, allowing subscription apps to be shared among family members. The new option is available on the current release version of iOS, iOS 14.2.

Apple announced subscription sharing options as part of iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and macOS Big Sur. Developers are able to decide whether subscriptions should be available to members of a Family Sharing group. Some apps have been implementing the feature, as noted by Ryan Jones on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1334611352556613633

Prior to today, if one member of a family purchased an app that included a subscription benefit, there was no built-in way for those subscription features to be shared with other family members.

Article Link: Family Sharing for App Store Subscriptions Now Available

 

[Mike MA]

Let’s keep it short: Thanks Apple!

 

[mattopotamus]

interesting, so does this mean I could share my 1password subscription with my wife, and she could have her own account as long as the developer supports it?

 

[motm95]

I wonder how many significant others will be surprised to see a Tinder subscription suddenly show up.

 

[itsmeaustend]

Looks like it may be new subscriptions only.

 

[nutmac]

When Apple say "Share New Subscriptions", does it mean only "new" subscriptions that the developer approved can be shared with my family?

 

[HyperliteG4]

Does anyone know what happens if two users previously had the same subscription? Both my wife and I have CARROT Weather Tier 2, but would love to consolidate to a single charge.

 

[nerdherdster]

Good to see it's happening for subscriptions, but what about family sharing for in-app purchases? Family sharing for in-app purchases and subscriptions were announced at the same time but since the announcement I haven't been able to find any info about either one.

 

[adbe]

interesting, so does this mean I could share my 1password subscription with my wife, and she could have her own account as long as the developer supports it?

1password? No - they already have a family plan. They're unlikely to support this.

 

[adbe]

Good to see it's happening for subscriptions, but what about family sharing for in-app purchases? Family sharing for in-app purchases and subscriptions were announced at the same time but since the announcement I haven't been able to find any info about either one.

IAP is the big one for me, given that lots of apps seem to use IAP as a demo mode (rather than just to cynically do an end run around family sharing).

 

[kjvmartin]

Unable to share subscriptions has kept me from creating Apple IDs for my kids to use their iPads. I would love to be able to do this going forward, but need more info about exactly how this works.

 

[4jasontv]

1password? No - they already have a family plan. They're unlikely to support this.

Why would it be up to the developer?

 

[BeatCrazy]

Unable to share subscriptions has kept me from creating Apple IDs for my kids to use their iPads. I would love to be able to do this going forward, but need more info about exactly how this works.

You might not be understanding this new functionality. How many in-app third party subscriptions (not regular purchases) do you subscribe to today?

 

[NightFox]

Why would it be up to the developer?

Because, as it says in the article: "Developers are able to decide whether subscriptions should be available to members of a Family Sharing group"

 

[mattopotamus]

Why would it be up to the developer?

I think he gave good explanation. 1password already has a "family" tier, so they would lose money by doing it this way.

 

[LeadingHeat]

I just wonder how many developers will intentionally block this, to squeeze out more money from subscriptions.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Depending on the app, this might be useful for me.

 

[HyperliteG4]

Because, as it says in the article: "Developers are able to decide whether subscriptions should be available to members of a Family Sharing group"

I just wonder how many developers will intentionally block this, to squeeze out more money from subscriptions.

My guess is that developers will create new subscription tiers for family purchases at a slightly higher rate. Much like Apple Music is $9.99 for individuals and $14.99 for families.

 

[reallynotnick]

Is there an easy way to see if a subscription would support this?

 

[mcdawg]

IAP is the big one for me, given that lots of apps seem to use IAP as a demo mode (rather than just to cynically do an end run around family sharing).

Oh man, I did not know that IAP doesn't work on family sharing.

I just set up (or am trying to set up... that's another looooong story) Family Sharing, in advance of getting my boys Apple Watches (with cellular, they like phones in all the good communication, calendaring ways, but in none of the brain-melting, soul-corrupting bad ways) for Christmas. And I'm obviously not going to be getting them phones anytime soon, so maybe this doesn't matter too much... but I didn't know this.

And it's a bummer.

But, if it does become an issue, at some point down the line, like with Apple TV or Mac apps for which they might be signed in under their own ID rather than mine... it will almost certainly stop me from purchasing anything as an IAP.
Just so you know, developers. ?

 

[edwrap]

Good to see it's happening for subscriptions, but what about family sharing for in-app purchases? Family sharing for in-app purchases and subscriptions were announced at the same time but since the announcement I haven't been able to find any info about either one.

Let’s hope in-app purchases are also included now, as there’s no mechanism to currently see previously purchased IAP (?), unlike subscriptions.

Apple lists both IAP and subscriptions on their iOS 14 page, with the feature still marked as coming this year:

iOS 17

iOS 17 brings new features for more expressive communication, simplified sharing, and a new full-screen experience for your iPhone.

www.apple.com

 

[Lemon Olive]

My guess is that developers will create new subscription tiers for family purchases at a slightly higher rate. Much like Apple Music is $9.99 for individuals and $14.99 for families.

There is no point in them doing that. I already share every subscription I need to share with my family very easily. I'm not going to pay higher rates just to use the "official" way of sharing.

 

[Lemon Olive]

Let’s hope in-app purchases are also included now, as there’s no mechanism to currently see previously purchased IAP (?), unlike subscriptions.

I'm not sure how in-app purchases actually apply. If someone buys a loot crate in a game and spends it, the rest of the family isn't getting that. It would have to be a very specific kind of in-app purchase like the permanent ones (removing ads for example).

 

[AgentOSX]

Great... but now I would like to have an Apple credit balance to be the default payment method for everyone in the family. Right now, I can use my credit balance and the rest of the family gets charged to my credit card.

 

[P-DogNC]

I just wonder how many developers will intentionally block this, to squeeze out more money from subscriptions.

This will definitely separate the good developers from the evil, greedy developers.