Spotify has quietly rolled out an update to its iPhone app in the U.S., enabling users to view subscription pricing and access external links to complete purchases directly on the company’s website. This change comes after years of tension between Spotify and Apple over App Store restrictions and marks a significant shift in how app developers can guide users to out-of-app payment methods.
With the latest update, users browsing Spotify’s iOS app can now see detailed pricing for Premium tiers—including Individual, Duo, Family, and Student plans. While actual purchases still cannot be made within the app, clickable buttons now direct users to Spotify’s external site, where they can subscribe without incurring Apple’s in-app purchase fees.
This change follows a court order stemming from a lawsuit originally brought by Epic Games. A federal judge recently ruled that Apple violated a 2021 injunction by continuing to impose limitations on how apps could communicate about alternative payment options. The ruling effectively bars Apple from enforcing its standard commission—27% for redirected purchases—and compels the company to allow developers to include links and pricing details that were previously blocked.
Spotify, which has long criticized Apple’s App Store policies as anti-competitive, positioned the update as a win for consumer choice and business fairness. In a statement, the company framed the move as a long-overdue improvement that enhances transparency and lowers barriers for users. However, Apple has made it clear it does not agree with the ruling and intends to appeal.
This update doesn’t change Spotify’s long-standing refusal to support in-app purchases on iOS, a decision rooted in avoiding Apple’s commission fees. But it does signal a new chapter in the ongoing debate over how app marketplaces are governed—and how much control platform owners should have over third-party developers’ business models.
Other major iOS apps are expected to follow suit in the coming days, as the legal and regulatory landscape continues to shift in favor of more flexible payment communication within Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem.
