Apple has increasingly been encouraging app developers to switch to a subscription model, rather than a one-off purchase cost or in-app purchases to unlock features.
It’s now continuing this push with a new video on its developer site …
The appeal for developers is obvious: subscriptions generate the holy grail of tech businesses, recurring income. But users appear less convinced. A survey back in July found that the majority of iOS app users prefer a one-time payment to a subscription.
However, developers appearing in the video – likely shot at WWDC – argue that subscriptions benefit users as well as developers. They suggest that a subscription model gives user an opportunity to assess the value of a service without a larger one-off payment; that you’re funding continual development of the app; and that developers are incentivized to ensure that they continue to offer what customers want.
Apple advises developers to make a clear pitch and ensure the sign-up process is simple.
Personally, I’m still not persuaded.
Keep the purchase flow simple and only ask for necessary information upfront. Having too many steps or taking too much time for a user to sign up will lower your subscription conversion rate.
Provide prompts to subscribe in your app’s onboarding, and consider providing a persistent subscription button throughout the app interface.
A recent survey suggests that many people have little idea how much they are paying in total for their digital subscriptions. If you want to carry out your own audit, here’s how.
