iOS Apps & Subscriptions? [closed]

Question

Am I required to use Apple's In-App Purchase support if I wish to allow for subscriptions in my app? I'm currently working on an app that will be free to download and use. It will be ad-supported, but I will also offer a premium version of the service that won't display ads. Can I implement the subscription functionality myself within the app/backend service (Registration, credit card processing, etc.)? Or, am I required to use Apple's In-App Purchase support (thereby also giving up 30% of my subscription fee)

Answer 1

Yes you are required. Apple will reject anything that tries to work around their 30% cut

Answer 2

Actually... there is a workaround where you may keep 100% of the revenue:

"If you would like to make a subscription offer outside of the app, the same (or better) subscription price must be offered inside the app for users who wish to subscribe from within the app." Source: https://developer.apple.com/appstore/in-app-purchase/subscriptions.html

Not sure if this speaks directly to your question of making an app ad free, but it is possible to keep 100% of the revenue IF you make the same offer as an in app purchase.

Apple reversed these guidelines a while ago, allowing devs to mark up in-app purchases, but I am not sure if this is still relevant.

See: http://www.macworld.com/article/1160430/apple_removes_pricing_restrictions_in_app_subscriptions.html

and

http://help.rdio.com/customer/portal/questions/433219-price-discrepancy