Spotify's iPhone app in the U.S. now offers its users new payment and subscription options — and some of them could save you money.
The move follows a new decision in Epic Games' lawsuit against Apple, in which a California judge ordered that Apple must allow third-party app developers to direct customers to external payment sites.
Following the ruling, Spotify submitted a new version of its iPhone app, which was approved by Apple on Friday.
"In a victory for consumers, artists, creators, and authors, Apple has approved Spotify’s U.S. app update," wrote Spotify in a blog post. "After nearly a decade, this will finally allow us to freely show clear pricing information and links to purchase, fostering transparency and choice for U.S. consumers. We can now give consumers lower prices, more control, and easier access to the Spotify experience."
In practice, this means that Spotify's iPhone app in the U.S. can now show users pricing details on all of Spotify subscriptions, including promotions that can save users money. Users can more easily switch from one type of account to another, and they can use payment options other than what Apple is offering.
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Prior to this change, Spotify was not allowed to show users that they can get a cheaper subscription option by purchasing directly on Spotify's website.
"The fact that we haven’t been able to deliver these basic services, which were permitted by the judge’s order four years ago, is absurd," said the company in its blog post.
Other publishers, including Epic Games and Patreon, have also submitted updated iPhone apps with new payment options to Apple's App Store.
