Apple and Google take a 30% commission on in-app purchases, which can significantly impact businesses that rely on subscriptions. Major apps like Spotify, Netflix, Kindle, etc. have already found legal ways to bypass these fees while staying compliant with store policies.

Let's deep dive into how to get a user's subscription legally and maximize revenue, this guide will show you how to structure your subscription flow the right way.

The Key Strategy: Move Payments Outside the App
The safest way to bypass in-app purchase fees is to redirect users to your website for payments while ensuring you don’t explicitly mention external payments within the app.

What’s Allowed?

  1. You can let users sign up for free in the app.
  2. You can send an email directing users to a payment page.
  3. You can show subscription benefits but without a "Buy" button.
  4. You can include a “Manage Subscription” button that opens a browser.

What’s Not Allowed?

  1. You cannot say “Subscribe on our website for lower fees” in the app.
  2. You cannot add an external payment link directly inside the app.
  3. You cannot use WebView to open a payment page (Apple blocks this).

The Subscription Flow
Here's how you can set up your subscription system to stay compliant and avoid in-app purchase fees:

  1. User registers an account in-app (Email & Full Name).
  2. User completes KYC (if needed).
  3. User accesses basic/free features.
  4. Subscription benefits are shown (e.g., "Upgrade to Premium for these and that features!") but without a direct purchase button.
  5. A "Manage Subscription" button redirects to an external browser, where users can pay.
  6. After payment, users log back into the app and get premium access.

Example UI (Safe for Apple & Google)
Here’s how your UI should look:

Example of a Payment Update Prompt (Without Mentioning Subscription)
Instead of mentioning subscriptions directly, apps use generic messages for payment issues:

Image description

"Please update your payment information" – Notice that this message does not reference subscriptions but instead directs users to an external website.

Example of a Manage Subscription Page (Redirecting Users Outside the App)

Another example is a "Manage Subscription" button that directs users to the website:

Image description

This UI follows the rules: It does not contain an in-app payment button but provides an option to manage the subscription externally.

Moving the Subscription Payment?
To stay compliant:

Add a "Manage Subscription" button inside your app.

  1. When tapped, open an external browser (not WebView!).
  2. Process the payment on your website.
  3. After payment, allow users to log in and access premium features.

By implementing these strategies, you can retain your revenue while staying fully compliant with Apple & Google policies.

If you're building a subscription-based app, DO NOT attempt to bypass fees by adding external links inside the app. Instead, use a "Manage Subscription" button that opens a browser and handles payments externally.

By following this approach, you can avoid app store rejections, maximize revenue, and provide a smooth experience for your users.

Happy Coding! Safe Coding Always.

Note: May be this will work for somebody and may not work with somebody. May be in future Apple and Google will have strict action on this as well.

Reference:
https://dev.to/surhidamatya/understanding-app-store-fees-2l9d