After brief misconceptions that the Spotify App Store in-app purchase is returning for all Apple devices, the streaming service provider clears the air. This information is coming just a few days after reports hit the internet that Spotify Apple users might be getting a long-lost feature back. The feature in question is the ability to make purchases directly from the Spotify app on their device.
A few years ago, Spotify took away the ability to make payments within the app from Apple users. This move helps the streaming service provider save operational costs by shaking off Apple’s revenue demands. Yes, Apple demands a certain percentage of all purchases made on apps.
A few days ago, some developers spotted strings of codes within the Spotify iOS app pointing to in-app purchases. This created a false impression that Spotify is planning to bring back in-app purchases to their iOS app. However, the streaming service provider has refuted these claims, saying that they “have no plans to switch IAP [in-app payments] on at the moment.”
So if you are an iOS user, then you have to stick to subscribing and making Spotify purchases from the web. Spotify will rely on this payment method to stay clear from Apple’s revenue cut demands that seem to be harming its business. By making iOS users pay for subscriptions and other purchases on the web, Spotify keeps all of its generated revenue.
This action isn’t new to the tech industry, as Netflix does something similar on Android devices. Both Spotify and Netflix stay away from in-app purchases on the App Store and Play Store to avoid paying unfair revenue cuts. These service providers are not happy about the revenue cuts that both Apple and Google are demanding of them for in-app payments.