Spotify will no longer let its subscribers pay through the Apple App Store's in-app purchases.
The giant Swedish-based streamer is now encouraging subscribers to use other payment methods to continue enjoying the service.
Spotify is Cutting Off Subscribers Paying via Apple App Store
The company logo of Swedish music streaming giant spotify is pictured on a smartphone in Berlin on January 23, 2023.
According to Engadget, Spotify is cutting off subscribers who pay for their Premium service through the Apple App Store. The move is the latest salvo in Spotify's long-running feud with Apple over the App Store's payment policies.
The Swedish-based music service is now reaching out to users still paying their subscriptions through iOS in-app payments. An email sent to these folks reads: "We're contacting you because when you joined Spotify Premium you used Apple's billing service to subscribe. Unfortunately, we no longer accept that billing method as a form of payment."
Spotify users who subscribe through the App Store will have their accounts transitioned to the free ad-supported service at the end of their current billing period. They will then need to resubscribe to Premium using the Spotify website.
The email says, "If you wish to keep your Premium subscription, you will need to re-subscribe after your last billing period has ended and your account has been moved on to the Free account."
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Spotify vs. Apple App Store
This illustration picture taken on July 24, 2019 in Paris shows the logo of the Swedish music streaming application Spotify on the screen of a tablet.
The battle between Spotify and Apple is likely to continue for some time. However, Spotify's latest move shows that the company is not backing down.
In context, Mac Rumors reports that Spotify allowed its users to subscribe to their Premium service via Apple's in-app purchases for roughly two years. In other words, subscribers could pay via the App Store from 2014 to 2016.
As per 9to5 Mac, Spotify prevented users from subscribing to their premium service through in-app purchases on Apple's iOS last 2016. Essentially, the move lets the Swedish music service bypass the 30 percent commission the iPhone maker imposes.
And since then, subscribers had to pay for the Spotify Premium service outside the Apple ecosystem. However, some users who initially used the Apple App Store option continued doing so despite the higher fees. But this time, the streaming service is forcing them to use other payment methods.
Users could save money when they pay outside the App Store since Spotify no longer have to pay Apple its cut. Engadget notes subscribers via in-app purchases pay $3 more per month than those subscribing directly to the music service.
As Spotify plans to cut off legacy subscribers on the Apple App Store, these users may continue their Premium service either via PayPal or their credit card.
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