Photograph: Cult of Mac
All Spotify subscribers who’ve been paying for the music streaming service via the App Retailer are being switched to a free, ad-supported plan whether or not they wish to or not.
Those that want can swap again to a for-pay plan, however cannot pay for it via Apple’s app cost system.
Spotify vs. the App Retailer
Spotify and Apple have had a tense relationship for years — not shocking contemplating the 2 firms run rival music streaming providers. Spotify distributes its iPhone utility via the App Retailer however gained‘t let new clients pay for a subscription via it as a result of Apple takes a reduce of the charge. It’s 30% for the primary yr and 15% afterward.
Paying via the app was once an choice till Spotify reduce that off means again in 2016. However that was just for new subscribers — the service “grandfathered” in clients who already had a subscription that went via the App Retailer, regardless that Apple continued to gather 15% of the charge.
A few years later, it’s ending that coverage. Prospects who nonetheless pay by way of the App Retailer are getting an electronic mail from Spotify warning that their music streaming subscription is about to “robotically swap to our Free, ad-supported service,” based on Selection.
However, as famous, they will swap again to a for-pay Premium account. They’ll need to pay for it with a bank card or PayPal, although.
The charge is $9.99 per 30 days for an Particular person plan, $12.99 for a Duo account, or $15.99 for a Household account. All of this cash goes to Spotify — none of it to Apple.
An ongoing feud
That is absolutely not the top of the unhealthy blood between Apple and Spotify. The Swedish music service filed a grievance in opposition to Apple Retailer charges with the European Union, and Apple loosened some App Retailer restrictions.
However Spotify will certainly be one of many first firms to let iPhone customers within the EU sideload its utility when that choice turns into out there.
