Apple announced in April 2026 that it will introduce a new App Store subscription model allowing customers to pay on a monthly basis while committing to a 12-month plan. The option lets developers offer discounted monthly rates in exchange for more predictable long-term revenue.
The new subscription type formalizes a pricing approach many developers were already using informally — displaying a lower monthly equivalent price to highlight the savings of an annual plan over a standard monthly subscription. By officially supporting this model, Apple can also establish display policies to ensure customers are not misled about the total cost of a plan.
The feature will not be available to developers in the United States or Singapore at launch. Apple did not explain the exclusions, but the company is currently involved in ongoing App Store litigation in the U.S. stemming from its legal case with Epic Games, which concerns how Apple can charge for subscriptions. Singapore was also left out of the initial release, a market the source notes has a sophisticated payments environment with strong consumer protections.
Customers who sign up will be able to review payment structure and cancellation terms before committing. While subscribers can cancel at any time, monthly charges will continue to be deducted until the 12-month term ends. Apple will display completed and remaining payments under a user’s Apple Account, and will send reminder emails and, for those who opt in, push notifications ahead of renewal dates. Because subscriptions auto-renew, customers who do not cancel before a renewal date could find themselves committed to another 12-month term.
Developers can configure the new subscription type in App Store Connect and test it in Xcode. The feature will be available to customers running iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, macOS Tahoe 26.4, tvOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4 or later, with additional support arriving alongside iOS 26.5 and equivalent platform updates expected in May.
Source: TechCrunch