Apple has begun experimenting with a feature in the App Store that allows developers to offer “contingent pricing” for subscriptions. This means developers can bundle subscriptions for two apps at a discounted price.
In an update on the developer blogthe company said the update allows developers to charge a reduced price even if the app’s subscription increases, as long as consumers subscribe to the other app in the bundle.
“It can be used for subscriptions from one developer or two different developers. We are 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 receive notifications when more details are available in January,” the company said.
This is a useful feature for independent developers as it allows them to promote their work by offering subscription discounts on bundles of their apps.
Pete Hare, senior director of engineering at Apple, wrote about it LinkedIn the company handles all the complexity, including eligibility checks and payments of the process.
“We handle all the eligibility checks and commercial work to enable seamless in-app purchases in your own apps, as well as Apple-provided streams for one-step sign-up and download directly from email links or the App Store – to let you to discount your services based on other apps in the App Store,” Hare wrote.
While the feature is in testing, Apple said developers can push this discount in off-platform marketing channels, according to 9 to 5 Mac.
This looks like Apple’s move to make the App Store and its offering more attractive to developers before the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) comes into effect next year. The DMA is asking app distribution platforms, such as Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, to allow users to install apps in alternative ways.
Apple’s marketing language on this feature indicates that the App Store can handle complex payment and subscription processing, even when multiple apps and developers are involved. This kind of building could be cumbersome and difficult to execute for upcoming alternative app stores.
