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If you're using Spotify on an iPhone, there's some good news. The music-streaming service updated its iOS app to let you easily subscribe to and adjust premium plans, among other things.
In 2016, Spotify stopped allowing you to subscribe to services like Premium through its iOS app to avoid paying Apple a 30% commission. At the time, Apple also restricted how developers could direct people to off-app services. That changes this week after a judge ruled that Apple can no longer "impede developers' ability to communicate with users [or] levy or impose a new commission on off-app purchases."
(Credit: Spotify)Apple implemented these changes on May 1 and approved Spotify's app changes today. Once that update hits your phone, you'll be able to "click a link to purchase the subscription of choice, upgrading from a Free account to one of our Premium plans," Spotify says.
Spotify can also now advertise information about promotions and allow "other payment options beyond just Apple’s payment system," it says, with "a wider range of options on our website."
Plus, publishers will be able to sell audiobooks mores seamlessly. Currently, you can browse audiobooks on the Spotify app, but it redirects you to the web to purchase.
Alongside Spotify, Patreon has also submitted an iOS app update that allows creators to accept payments via non-Apple methods. This update has yet to be approved by Apple's App Store.
Proton, the privacy-focused company behind our pick for the best VPN, has also said it plans to lower prices by up to 30% when subscribing through an alternative payment method within its Apple apps.
Epic Games, on the other hand, is taking a bigger step. It will make Fortnite available for iOS users worldwide by next week and drop the current lawsuit against Apple if the iPhone maker agrees to stop taking App Store commissions worldwide.