Subscriptions are now a common part of most applications in App Storu. Users usually choose between a monthly plan, which is more expensive but more flexible, and an annual plan. variawith a better price, but on the condition of a one-time payment for a long period in advance. Apple now comes with a new solution that combines the advantages of both options.
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The company has officially launched a new type of subscription called "monthly subscription with a twelve-month commitment." The new product arrived together with iOS 26.5, and it also works on devices with iOS 26.4. The principle is quite simple. The user gets a price advantage similar to an annual subscription, but instead of a one-time payment, they pay an amount divided into twelve monthly installments.
In practice, this means that, for example, an application offering an annual plan at a discounted price will no longer require immediate payment of the full amount. The price will be spread over individual months, making it more affordable, but at the same time the user will commit to using the service for the entire year.
Apple also published a news item more detailed explanation of how it works. If the user activates this type of subscription, he/she undertakes to complete all payments until the end of the agreed period. The subscription can be canceled at any time, but the cancellation itself does not end the obligation to pay for the remaining months of the commitment. It only prevents automatic renewal after twelve months.
Another interesting feature is the handling of payment failures. If the monthly fee is not charged to the payment method, the user may temporarily lose access to the service until the payment is completed or the user updates their account information. Apple account.
Apple also thought about changing tariffs during the active commitment. If the user switches to a more expensive variaIf you cancel your subscription before the original period expires, the new plan will be activated immediately. At the same time, a pro rata portion of the unused period of the current subscription will be refunded and the terms of the commitment will be adjusted according to the new plan.
The new system is not yet available in all countries. Surprisingly, it is missing in the United States and Singapore, for example, while it has already been launched in most other regions. Apple The reason for this restriction has not yet been explained.
It is also important to note that support for the new subscription type is not automatic. Developers must add it to their applications manually, so the rollout will likely be gradual. However, we can expect this option to start appearing more frequently in the coming months, especially for more expensive services, where a one-time annual payment is often a barrier for some users. From the user's perspective, this is an interesting compromise between a lower price and spreading the costs over time. From the developer's perspective, the new model offers greater certainty of long-term income without the need to ask customers to make a large one-time payment.
They could add it to their services as wellCloud or Apple Music
Maybe on WWDC?