Picture: Cult of Mac
All Spotify subscribers who’ve been paying for the music streaming service by the App Retailer are being switched to a free, ad-supported plan whether or not they wish to or not.
Those that want can change again to a for-pay plan, however cannot pay for it by 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 corporations run rival music streaming providers. Spotify distributes its iPhone utility by the App Retailer however gained‘t let new clients pay for a subscription by it as a result of Apple takes a minimize of the charge. It’s 30% for the primary yr and 15% afterward.
Paying by the app was an choice till Spotify minimize that off approach again in 2016. However that was just for new subscribers — the service “grandfathered” in clients who already had a subscription that went by the App Retailer, although Apple continued to gather 15% of the charge.
A few years later, it’s ending that coverage. Clients who nonetheless pay through the App Retailer are getting an e-mail from Spotify warning that their music streaming subscription is about to “routinely change to our Free, ad-supported service,” in accordance with Selection.
However, as famous, they will change again to a for-pay Premium account. They’ll must 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 certainly not the tip of the dangerous 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 corporations to let iPhone customers within the EU sideload its utility when that choice turns into accessible.