Apple launches monthly App Store subscriptions with 12-month commitment
▼ Summary
– Apple has made monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment official for developers, allowing them to split annual plans into smaller monthly payments while requiring users to commit to the full term.
– Users can cancel at any time, preventing renewal after completing all agreed payments, and can view remaining payments in their Apple Account, with notifications for upcoming renewals.
– The new subscription type is available now for developers in App Store Connect and Xcode for testing, but it is not yet live on the App Store.
– The feature will launch worldwide next month with iOS 26.5, but will initially be unavailable in the United States and Singapore, with no reason or timeline given for these exceptions.
– Apple has not explained why the United States and Singapore are excluded, and 9to5Mac is awaiting comment from Apple on the matter.
Apple has officially unveiled a new App Store subscription model that allows developers to offer monthly billing plans tied to a 12-month commitment. The feature, first hinted at in the iOS 26.5 beta, is now available for developers to set up and test ahead of its public launch next month.
This new subscription tier gives developers a way to convert annual plans into smaller, recurring monthly payments, while still requiring users to honor the full year-long term. From the customer’s perspective, Apple says users can cancel at any time, but cancellation simply prevents the subscription from renewing after all agreed payments are completed. To ensure transparency, users can view how many payments they’ve made and how many remain directly in their Apple Account. Apple will also send email and push notifications about upcoming renewals.
Developers can already access this subscription type in App Store Connect and test it in Xcode, though it is not yet live on the public App Store. Once iOS 26.5 and its companion updates roll out next month, the feature will become available to users globally running iOS 26.4 or later. However, there are two notable exceptions: the United States and Singapore will not initially have access to this option. Apple’s announcement did not explain why these regions are excluded or provide a timeline for when the feature might arrive there.
9to5Mac has reached out to Apple for clarification and will update this story as more information becomes available. For developers and users alike, this move represents a significant shift in how subscription services can be structured on the platform, offering more flexibility for payment while maintaining long-term commitment.
(Source: 9to5Mac)
