Apple’s App Store practices have been under widespread assault in recent years, both in the US and especially abroad. But a new US law has just validated at least one aspect of Apple’s approach with the App Store: its easy subscription management.
App Store subscription practices are a model to follow
Earlier today, my colleague Ben Lovejoy wrote about recent federal and state-specific laws targeting user-hostile subscription practices:
The idea of both is to force companies to make it as easy to cancel an online or app subscription as it is to sign up in the first place. Both were introduced in response to sketchy practices by companies designed to make it as difficult as possible to unsubscribe.
The new “click to cancel’ laws are, in a sense, following Apple’s playbook for how App Store subscriptions and cancellations work.
For example, there are four requirements the FTC is imposing on all subscriptions. They must:
- Clearly and accurately disclose all material facts
- Clearly disclose the fact that the subscription will continue until cancelled
- Get “express informed consent” to automatic renewal
- Make it as easy to cancel the subscription as it was to sign up
These are all things that Apple does already, and has done for a long time with App Store subscriptions.
Occasionally we hear about developers having App Review issues because of the way their subscription offerings are designed. But Apple’s strictness is ultimately aimed at preventing bad actors from taking advantage of unsuspecting users.
Subscription cancellations are pain-free
Cancelling subscriptions, in particular, has been a strength of the App Store for years.
I love that after signing up for a new subscription, even just a free trial, I can immediately open the App Store’s subscription management tools and quickly cancel.
The process is easy and informative, leaving me with no complaints.
There may be major changes to the App Store coming in the US, all of course depending on how the pending DOJ case resolves. But I hope the way subscription management works stays the same.
What do you think of Apple’s handling of subscriptions? Let us know in the comments.
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