If that is actually true, then you will still be willing to do it even if I were allowed by Apple to tell you how much money Apple was taking and even if I were allowed to present the option to you in my application and make it just as easy for you to buy using an alternative payment system (instead of having to only implement the feature on my website, and then hope you are curious enough to look). Apple, however, seems to be very confident that it isn't true (well, maybe for you, but that you are an outlier)--that if presented with two payment options, one of which cost $5 and one of which cost only $4 (I needn't even add a markup: my goal might be to make more volume at a lower price), that a lot of people would choose the $4 option--and so they specifically ban both of the above practices.
We need to be crystal clear that the coalition fighting apple on this (match.com and friends) are EXACTLY the type of people you DO NOT want on your platform.
"FTC Sues Owner of Online Dating Service Match.com for Using Fake Love Interest Ads To Trick Consumers into Paying for a Match.com Subscription"
DA claim in CA "Match used actions that included misleading billing characterizations, nonconspicuous auto renewal disclosures, elimination of required cancellation disclosures, and imposition of a long and tedious cancellation process,” the district attorney said.
Do I think match and all the other scam billers / loot box mechanic providers will be able to get consumers into their impossible to cancel flows with $1 and $0 offers (with hidden huge renewal fees and early cancel requirements)? Sure.
Note that Apple's policies cost developers like you LOTS more than just their cut.
Their billing flow includes same font size trial renewal details (no * or hidden renewal rules).
Their flows include easy cancellations WITH REMINDERS ahead of time on subscriptions (no call to cancel).
Their flows include prompts to cancel subscriptions on app deletion (when I deleted the few paid apps I have where you subscribe on provider site they NEVER once emailed me to give me a quick link to cancel related subscription).
So you really could offer the $0 and $1 offers and even MAKE MORE MONEY.
Do I think this would destroy a lot of the "don't think about it" apple platform vibe? Also for sure. And so as a consumer I'm glad apple keeps these folks in line and off their platform. I can just imagine the spamming pop-ups to try to get folks into these crap billing flows already.
Do devs not pay attention to per user cash money revenue? Apple is building a platform that should be MORE lucrative, not less by making it safe to spend money on. Are devs really making more per user on Android? I find that hard to believe. The same sideloading epic likes on android means tons of stuff can be pirated etc.
From the iPhone settings app, it’s literally 4 taps to cancel any subscription. No questions asked. I also am willing to pay a premium for that convenience.
No doubt the upfront premium has saved me money versus the the time and difficulty of cancelling a service in every individual’s product bespoke system.
