App Review Guidelines -- In-App Purchases and Subscriptions

App Store review rules relevant to in-app purchases, subscriptions, and payment compliance. Extracted from Apple's App Store Review Guidelines for self-contained reference.

In-App Purchase Rules (Guideline 3.1.1)

IAP rules are strict and heavily enforced.

What Requires Apple IAP

All digital content and services must use Apple's In-App Purchase system:

• Premium features or content unlocks
• Subscriptions to app functionality
• Virtual currency, coins, gems
• Ad removal
• Digital tips or donations

What Does NOT Require IAP

• Physical products (e-commerce)
• Ride-sharing, food delivery, real-world services
• One-to-one services (tutoring, consulting booked through the app)
• Enterprise/B2B apps distributed through Apple Business Manager

Subscription Display Requirements

• Price, duration, and auto-renewal terms must be clearly displayed before purchase
• Free trials must state what happens when they end (price, billing frequency)
• No links, buttons, or language directing users to purchase outside the app
• "Reader" apps (Netflix, Spotify) may link to external sign-up but cannot offer IAP bypass

StoreKit Implementation Checklist

• Consumables, non-consumables, and subscriptions must be correctly categorized in App Store Connect
• Restore purchases functionality must be present and working
• Transaction verification should use StoreKit 2 Transaction.currentEntitlements or server-side validation
• Handle interrupted purchases, deferred transactions, and ask-to-buy gracefully

Common IAP Rejection Reasons

1. External payment links for digital content. Any language or button directing users to purchase digital content outside the app is rejected.
2. Missing restore purchases. A visible restore purchases button is required on any paywall or subscription view.
3. Unclear subscription terms. Price, duration, and renewal behavior must be clearly displayed before the user commits. Free trials must state post-trial pricing.
4. Incorrect product categorization. Consumables, non-consumables, and auto-renewable subscriptions must be correctly categorized in App Store Connect.

Pre-Submission Payments Checklist

• All digital content uses Apple IAP
• Subscription terms clearly displayed (price, duration, renewal behavior)
• No external payment links for digital content
• Free trial clearly states post-trial pricing
• Restore purchases button present and functional
• Consumables, non-consumables, and subscriptions correctly categorized
• Transaction verification uses StoreKit 2 APIs or server-side validation
• Ask to Buy / deferred transactions handled gracefully