App Store subscriptions are getting a pricing overhaul that lets users pay monthly for annual plans, but two key markets won't see the option at launch.
Apple confirmed Monday that developers can now offer monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment, letting customers split yearly costs into installments while still getting discounted annual pricing. The feature arrives as Apple formalizes what many developers already do in their apps: displaying a lower effective monthly rate to push users toward annual plans. The model works like this: customers agree to 12 months of payments but pay month by month, typically at a discount over standard monthly pricing. They can cancel at any time, though monthly charges continue through the commitment period.
Apple is adding transparency tools. Users can track completed and remaining payments through their Apple Account settings, and the company will send email and optional push notifications ahead of renewals.
Developers can configure the new subscription type in App Store Connect and test it in Xcode starting today. The option goes live next month with iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5, becoming available to anyone running iOS 26.4 or later. The United States and Singapore are excluded from the initial rollout. Apple didn't explain why, but the timing points to its ongoing legal battle with Epic Games.
The company is still dealing with court rulings around how it handles App Store subscriptions and commissions in the US, and likely doesn't want to complicate matters until those proceedings are finalized. Singapore's exclusion may stem from its strict consumer protection regulations covering subscription payments. The move effectively codifies an existing developer tactic into official App Store policy, giving Apple control over how these offers are displayed and preventing misleading pricing claims. For customers, it unlocks cheaper access to premium apps without upfront lump-sum payments, though auto-renewal means missing a cancellation window could lock someone into another full year.
