Are you an app developer looking to increase your revenue streams? Apple has got you covered! The tech giant is introducing new subscription options that will help developers like you entice users to stick around and make recurring payments. In a recent update, Apple informed developers about the ability to target current and recent subscribers with promotional rates on subscriptions. This means you can offer discounts to re-engage lapsed users or incentivize existing ones to stay.

Targeting Subscribers with Promotions

In the past, app developers could only offer limited-time subscription discounts to new users. However, with this new update, developers will be able to offer these promotions to both current and recent subscribers. This feature is available in the latest beta releases of iOS 12.2, macOS Mojave 10.14.4, and tvOS 12.2. Apple has three different types of offers that you can deploy to retain or regain subscribers.

Offer Types

According to Apple's App Store Connect post on the subject, there are three offer types:

  • Free: Customers access your subscription for free for a specific duration (e.g., a 30-day trial with a standard renewal price of $4.99 per month).
  • Pay As You Go: Customers pay a promotional price for each billing period for a selected duration (e.g., $1.99 per month for three months for a subscription with a standard renewal price of $9.99 per month).
  • Pay Up Front: Customers pay a one-time promotional price for a specific duration (e.g., $9.99 for the first six months of a subscription with a standard renewal price of $39.99 per year).

Implementing Offers

To deploy these offers, developers will need to implement new StoreKit APIs using the latest beta version of Xcode. You can test these offers using the aforementioned iOS, macOS, and tvOS betas, but they won't become available to users until the feature is publicly available.

A New Era for App Revenue

Apple has already tested similar offers with iPhone users for Apple Music. This marks the first time that other developers on Apple's platform can reach lapsed subscribers in this way. With these new subscription options, app developers like you have a unique opportunity to boost your revenue and create more engaging experiences for your users.