Free trial versions of paid applications are heading to the App Store

If we were to look at a theoretical list of shortcomings that users lack in the App Store, the absence of trial versions of paid applications would be at the top of such a list. This has not yet been possible within the App Store. The trial period could only be obtained for applications that work on a subscription basis. This was not possible with other applications where only the initial purchase is paid. And that's changing now, following an update to the App Store terms and conditions.

Apple is thus probably responding to long-standing complaints from both users and developers. If their app was only charged by the purchase amount, so it wasn't based on a subscription model, there was no way for users to try it out. This sometimes discourages the purchase, especially in cases where it is an application for several hundred crowns. The updated terms of the App Store, specifically point 3.1.1, now state that the aforementioned applications can offer a free trial version, which will take the form of a time-limited subscription for 0 crowns.

Applications will now have the option of a subscription, which will be free and allow you to use the application as if it were in paid mode for a certain period of time. However, this change will introduce several potential problems. First of all, it will motivate developers to convert the application to the classic subscription mode. If they process the changes that will be needed for this trial "free subscription", there is nothing stopping them from continuing to use this payment model. Another problem arises in the case of family sharing, as in-app purchases are tied to one specific Apple ID. Subscriptions cannot be shared with family members using in-app purchases. At first glance, this is a positive change, but we will see what it will bring in practice only after a few weeks after the implementation.

Source: Macrumors

Discussion of the article

[Mikuláš Berka]

But we're not going to applaud for a feature that should have been there from the beginning, are we?

[Unfaithful]

The Appstore or the entire iOS is successful because a person bought an app once and had it forever. This seems to be a surplus because Apple and company would like to make money on a monthly basis from each application.