Spotify Now Offers Direct Audiobook Purchases on iOS Following App Store Rule Changes

[MacRumors]

Spotify is taking full advantage of Apple's recent U.S. App Store changes, and it's now possible for Spotify subscribers to see audiobook pricing and make audiobook purchases using a web view in the Spotify app.

Spotify said today that Apple approved its latest update, which includes the audiobook functionality. If you've kept up with the disputes between Apple and Spotify over the years, you might remember that the two companies had a fight over audiobooks back in 2022.

When Spotify first added audiobooks to its app, Apple rejected the update three times because Spotify was breaking rules about how apps are allowed to communicate with users about purchasing options outside of the App Store. Spotify wanted to send customers to buy books online to listen to in the app, and at the time, Apple had a rule allowing apps to send emails to customers about online purchases. Spotify's email had a link to purchase options, though, and Apple wouldn't allow it.

Spotify ultimately surrendered in 2022 and removed information about how to purchase an audiobook from the Spotify app, and that's how audiobooks on Spotify worked until now. The U.S.App Store changes that Apple was ordered to implement allow for apps to direct customers to purchase options outside of apps, so Spotify is able to distribute audiobooks the way it wanted to in 2022.

When you tap on the audiobooks tab in the Spotify app and choose an audiobook, tapping on the lock icon over the audiobook opens up the Spotify website where the audiobook can be purchased directly from Spotify, with no in-app purchase option. There's also an option for Spotify Premium subscribers to buy "Top Up" hours to listen add to the 15 hours of audiobook playtime included with a Spotify membership.

In a blog post, Spotify praises the court decision that allowed for the U.S. App Store change.

This change lowers the barriers for more users to embrace their first - or tenth - audiobook, while allowing publishers and authors to reach fans and access new audiences seamlessly. It also helps level the playing field by allowing all developers to offer basic pricing information and easy-to-access links for consumers to purchase digital goods and services through iPhones with no unnecessary steps or additional taxes levied by Apple. In short, this freedom is a win for authors, audiences, and developers everywhere--if the legal ruling stands despite Apple's continued attempts to stop it.

Spotify previously updated its app to allow Spotify users to upgrade to a Premium subscription using the Spotify website, without Spotify having to give Apple a cut of the purchase price.

Apple is appealing the court ruling, but for now, all app developers in the U.S. are able to submit app updates that direct customers to in-app web views for making purchases that do not involve the in-app purchase system.

Article Link: Spotify Now Offers Direct Audiobook Purchases on iOS Following App Store Rule Changes

 

[spaxxedout]

Bro we just want to pay $10 for an ebook or $15 for an audiobook + ebook.

 

[rotvaldi]

Okay price reduction when????

 

[canadianreader]

"Purchase" I’d call it a revolution when these popular marketplaces will allow us to truly own audiobooks DRM free.

 

[jlc1978]

So, does Spotify allow me to put my stuff on their site for free and include a link to completely bypass their payment system and not give them a cut? If so, I’ll gladly upload a bunch of books. If not, they’re just doing what they whine about.

 

[AppliedMicro]

So, does Spotify allow me to put my stuff on their site for free and include a link to completely bypass their payment system and not give them a cut?

If you become a rapper and upload a song to Spotify that ends "Buy more great songs straight from my web site", I'm sure you can bypass their payment system.

 

[Rogifan]

Okay price reduction when????

Since you could never buy this in-app what price cut needs to happen?

 

[Rogifan]

So, does Spotify allow me to put my stuff on their site for free and include a link to completely bypass their payment system and not give them a cut? If so, I’ll gladly upload a bunch of books. If not, they’re just doing what they whine about.

So the Spotify app is Apple’s site? How so?

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

So, does Spotify allow me to put my stuff on their site for free and include a link to completely bypass their payment system and not give them a cut? If so, I’ll gladly upload a bunch of books. If not, they’re just doing what they whine about.

Your logic is senseless. Apple isn't hosting Spotify's music and audiobooks -- Spotify is. The only thing Apple does is the one-time download of the app to my phone (and only because Apple forces that), then Apple's job is done.

Not sure how "your stuff" on Spotify has anything to do with this.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

"Purchase" I’d call it a revolution when these popular marketplaces will allow us to truly own audiobooks DRM free.

It was that way before the pirates took over. The audiobook industry doesn't want to be analogous to a Library where you buy one and loan for free a 1000 times.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

So, does Spotify allow me to put my stuff on their site for free and include a link to completely bypass their payment system and not give them a cut? If so, I’ll gladly upload a bunch of books. If not, they’re just doing what they whine about.

Yep they do. Luckily they don’t sell anything and share the revenue from adds and subscription revenue.

 

[Gengar]

People really want music, podcasts, and audiobooks jumbled into the same app (that STILL doesn't offer lossless streaming)?

 

[xander49x]

never have I ever used Spotify, the company is very suspect and I do not like their business practice.

 

[sw1tcher]

So, does Spotify allow me to put my stuff on their site for free and include a link to completely bypass their payment system and not give them a cut? If so, I’ll gladly upload a bunch of books. If not, they’re just doing what they whine about.

App developers, including Spotify, pay Apple an annual fee to get their apps on Apple's App Store

Choosing a Membership - Support - Apple Developer

developer.apple.com

About the Apple Developer Program

If you’re interested in creating apps for distribution on the App Store, Apple Business Manager, or Apple School Manager, join the Apple Developer Program.* Membership includes access to beta OS releases, advanced app capabilities, and tools needed to develop, test, and distribute apps and Safari Extensions.

Whether you think the annual fee is enough or not to cover Apple's costs is another topic of discussion entirely. But stop pretending that Apple gives everyone free access to their App Store when you know they do not.

 

[sw1tcher]

People really want music, podcasts, and audiobooks jumbled into the same app (that STILL doesn't offer lossless streaming)?

Based on their most recent earnings report, I'd say the answer is yes.

Today, we announced our first quarter 2025 earnings, starting the year off strong by outperforming across key metrics, including the highest Q1 Subscriber net adds since 2020 and a record high Operating Income. Take a look at the highlights below:

• Subscribers: increased 12% Y/Y to 268 million.
• Monthly Active Users: reached 678 million up by 10% Y/Y.

 

[jlc1978]

Your logic is senseless. Apple isn't hosting Spotify's music and audiobooks -- Spotify is. The only thing Apple does is the one-time download of the app to my phone (and only because Apple forces that), then Apple's job is done.

Not sure how "your stuff" on Spotify has anything to do with this.

Simple - if Spotify wants free access to Apple’s user base, why can’t somoene have free access to to Spotify's while Spotify absorbs all the posts?

 

[jlc1978]

App developers, including Spotify, pay Apple an annual fee to get their apps on Apple's App Store

Choosing a Membership - Support - Apple Developer

developer.apple.com

About the Apple Developer Program

If you’re interested in creating apps for distribution on the App Store, Apple Business Manager, or Apple School Manager, join the Apple Developer Program.* Membership includes access to beta OS releases, advanced app capabilities, and tools needed to develop, test, and distribute apps and Safari Extensions.

View attachment 2512127


Whether you think the annual fee is enough or not to cover Apple's costs is another topic of discussion entirely. But stop pretending that Apple gives everyone free access to their App Store when you know they do not.

Yea.Apple charges a small fee, no doubt just to keep the non-serious from joining just to get the bennies. If you think $99 is all EPIC should pay, I must disagree. Maybe artists should just pay Spotify $99 and be free to chareg for their stuff independent of Spotify. The hypocrisy of some of the big developer sis amazing.

 

[Aeronauts]

I hope these AppStore changes are eventually applied to other countries. Not everyone lives in the US or EU.

 

[notsoupyet]

I've put hundreds of $$ into the top-ups, does Premium now mean that we can either top-up like previously or purchase the audiobooks directly?

 

[MacAddict1978]

So, does Spotify allow me to put my stuff on their site for free and include a link to completely bypass their payment system and not give them a cut? If so, I’ll gladly upload a bunch of books. If not, they’re just doing what they whine about.

SMH. Actually, yeah. It's the record labels that they have to pay, and the artists, composers, etc. that created content they deserve to be paid for. Maybe you confused Spotify and LimeWire?

People really want music, podcasts, and audiobooks jumbled into the same app (that STILL doesn't offer lossless streaming)?

Actually, yeah. And when it's not a bloated bogged down mess like iTunes was, not having the annoyance of having to switch between no less than 4 apps while walking the dog to hear content is amazing, unlike Apple Music, Books, Classical Music, and then Apple Pods because 4 half-baked apps and switching between them is a great user experience, right?

PS. Consider Spotify is the king of these apps... the majority agrees. And Lossless? Well, I am irritated its still not yet arrived, but considering 95% of people don't own $400+ headphones that would actually make a difference... who cares???

never have I ever used Spotify, the company is very suspect and I do not like their business practice.

What business practices do you not like exactly? Offering a free ad supported tier? Including free audio books each month with your sub? Exclusive podcasts? Generous sharing plans? Alogrythms to recommend music that don't suck?

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Simple - if Spotify wants free access to Apple’s user base, why can’t somoene have free access to to Spotify's while Spotify absorbs all the posts?

First off, it's not free (did you read the post up a few?)--Developers pay a fee for access to "Apple's user base". If Apple wants to raise it, they can.

Your arguments are weak at best and your analogies just don't work. Artists paying Spotify and users paying artists? Sounds like a fustercluck of a business practice and a sure way for artists to go hungry.

 

[dandy1117]

First off, it's not free (did you read the post up a few?)--Developers pay a fee for access to "Apple's user base". If Apple wants to raise it, they can.

Your arguments are weak at best and your analogies just don't work. Artists paying Spotify and users paying artists? Sounds like a fustercluck of a business practice and a sure way for artists to go hungry.

Well actually… the nominal developer fee primarily grants access to Apple’s development tools, supported APIs, documentation, and training resources—which on their own would already be a solid value. But the real engine of the ecosystem is the App Store revenue share. That’s what funds the ongoing development of APIs, the hosting infrastructure, payment processing, accessibility research, and other costly platform enhancements that third-party developers benefit from.

If Apple were to significantly raise the cost of developer accounts, we’d likely see fewer free apps and a lower overall number of developers entering the ecosystem. That would reduce app diversity and innovation—ultimately hurting consumers as well.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

Simple - if Spotify wants free access to Apple’s user base, why can’t somoene have free access to to Spotify's while Spotify absorbs all the posts?

You have free access to Spotify. Heck if you want you can even put your music on Spotify for free as they aren’t a store.

 

[SMH4KIDIOT]

Simple - if Spotify wants free access to Apple’s user base, why can’t somoene have free access to to Spotify's while Spotify absorbs all the posts?

You can literally post your stuff free on Spotify as a creator and listen for free as a customer.

 

[Big_D]

Okay price reduction when????

Why? Until now there was no in-app option to buy through the iOS app, you had to work out how to go to the website and then buy it. Now you can buy it in the app, so the only thing that has changed is that it is now more convenient, Apple was never involved in purchases, as far as I am aware, apart from barring Spotify from having the option to purchase the audio books in the app.

If they had added in-app purchases through Apple's App Store payments, I could understand them increasing the price by 30%, but why would they reduce the price, when nothing has changed? Users are still going to the same Spotify web page to make the purchase, just that it is through an in-app browser, not starting up an external browser and manually going to the relevant Spotify page.