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As 9to5Mac notes by referencing iOS 11.2 beta release notes, Apple is planning to give developers more freedom by introducing pricing levels of in-app subscriptions. Apple is going to give more flexible pricing options from full price and free to include a new, discounted option. This is to help developers entice new subscribers to sign up for a subscription with auto-pay enabled.
Right now, developers are only allowed to use single-use free trials as an incentive to give users to enroll in auto-pay. Apple is looking to improve pricing options for developers and has been exploring options since last summer. The company previously introduced a new revenue split for renewal subscriptions. Apple generally takes 30% of revenue generated on the App Store, but that will drop to 15% from subscriptions after one year. This is to help with reoccurring subscriptions rather than just one-time payments.
It’s unclear when iOS 11.2 will arrive, but it should be in the near future. This change won’t be felt too dramatically by users because it’s a change meant for developers. It’s a win developers are welcoming with open arms as they find new strategic ways to entice users to sign up for subscriptions with auto-renewals. Apple seems to now be focused on more long-term investments as opposed to just fixed short-term options.
