Digital content not using In-App Purchase

App sells digital content, subscriptions, or unlockable features through a third-party payment system instead of Apple's In-App Purchase. This is the core IAP rule — digital goods must go through Apple.

31 cases reported · ~11 days to resolve · 0% appeal success

Apple's rejection message

Guideline 3.1.1 - Business - Payments - In-App Purchase: Your app offers digital content or features for purchase but does not use in-app purchase, which is required for digital goods and services.

How to fix this

Migrate digital purchases to StoreKit In-App Purchase

hardWorked for 95%

Replace any third-party payment for digital content with Apple's StoreKit IAP. Physical goods and services (Uber rides, food delivery) can still use external payment, but digital content (subscriptions, premium features, virtual currency) must use IAP.

import StoreKit

func purchase(_ product: Product) async throws {
    let result = try await product.purchase()
    switch result {
    case .success(let verification):
        let transaction = try checkVerified(verification)
        await transaction.finish()
    case .userCancelled, .pending:
        break
    @unknown default:
        break
    }
}

Real-world cases (31)

Reddit·Lifestyle·10d to resolve

Guideline 3.1.1 - Business - Payments. Your dating app offers premium message credits purchased through a third-party payment processor.

Fix: Migrated credit purchases to consumable In-App Purchases. Created credit bundles (10, 50, 100 credits) as IAP products. Server validates App Store receipts and credits the users account. Stripe remove...

Jul 1, 2025Source

Reddit·Education·14d to resolve

Guideline 3.1.1 - Business - Payments. Your app offers access to an online course library through a web-based payment that should use In-App Purchase.

Fix: Implemented StoreKit 2 for all course purchases within the app. Created auto-renewable subscription for all-access pass and non-consumable IAPs for individual courses. Web purchases still work but no...

Jul 1, 2025Source

Reddit·Business·14d to resolve

Guideline 3.1.1 - Business - Payments - In-App Purchase. Your app uses Stripe for digital subscription payments which must use In-App Purchase.

Fix: Implemented in_app_purchase_storekit2 Flutter package for iOS subscriptions. Kept Stripe for Android and web. Used RevenueCat as abstraction layer to manage both payment systems from one backend.

Jun 1, 2025Source

View all 31 cases →

Command Palette

Digital content not using In-App Purchase

How to fix this

Migrate digital purchases to StoreKit In-App Purchase

Real-world cases (31)

Migrate digital purchases to StoreKit In-App Purchase

Real-world cases (31)