Apple is exploring a new feature on the App Store that allows developers to offer “contingent pricing” for subscriptions. This means that developers can bundle subscriptions for two different apps at a discounted price.
In a recent update on their developer blog, the company announced that this feature will allow developers to offer a discounted price for an app’s subscription as long as the user has already subscribed to another app in the bundle.
“It can be used for subscriptions from one developer or two different developers. We’re currently piloting this feature and will be onboarding more developers in the coming months. If you’re interested in implementing contingent pricing in your app, you can start planning today and sign up to get notified when more details are available in January,” said Apple.
This feature is particularly beneficial for indie developers as it allows them to attract more users by offering discounts on bundles of their apps.
Pete Hare, a senior engineering manager at Apple, explained on LinkedIn that the company will handle all the complexity of eligibility checks and payments for developers who use this feature.
“We handle all the eligibility checks and commerce work to allow for seamless in-app purchases in your own apps, and also Apple-provided flows to subscribe and download in one step directly from email links or the App Store – to allow you to discount your services based on other apps in the App Store,” Hare stated.
According to 9to5Mac, while this feature is still in the testing phase, Apple will allow developers to promote their discounted subscriptions on off-platform marketing channels.
This move from Apple seems to be a response to the upcoming EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which will take effect next year. The DMA requires app distribution platforms like Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store to allow users to install apps through alternative options.
Apple’s language around this feature suggests that the App Store is capable of handling complex processing of payments and subscriptions even when multiple apps and developers are involved. This type of functionality may be difficult for other alternative app stores to replicate.
