Apple has approved a Spotify update that will show customers in the European Union (EU) prices in the app but not click a purchase link.
So now you can compare Spotify’s in-app subscription prices to web subscriptions but not click a link to get to the subscription page because Spotify didn’t want to agree to Apple’s unfavorable rules for sales outside of the app. Of course, nothing stops you from manually visiting the Spotify website to subscribe. Spotify has announced these changes in an update to its March 4 blog post.
At least people in the EU can now make a bit more informed purchasing decisions. Do I care about the convenience and hassle-free nature of Apple’s In-App Purchase mechanism enough to pay more for the privilege, or do I save myself a few bucks and enter my credit card and billing details on the Spotify website?
Spotify for iPhone now shows prices in the EU
“EU iPhone consumers will now benefit from seeing our end-of-summer promotional pricing,” Spotify said. “They’ll also finally be able to see how much a Premium plan of their choosing costs once the promotion ends.”
This convoluted mess results from Apple’s half-hearted efforts to appease regulators in Brussels and EU bureaucrats being preoccupied with wanting to fine Big Tech. The strategy seems to have worked, to an extent as Apple did change its rules for developers in the 27 EU member states to comply with the bloc’s Digital Markets Act.
“Unfortunately, Spotify and all music streaming services in the EU are still unable to freely give consumers a simple opportunity to click a link to purchase in-app because of the illegal and predatory taxes Apple continues to demand, despite the Commission’s ruling,” Spotify wrote.
Spotify goes to war with Apple
Spotify, hailing from Sweden, is the world’s leading subscription music-streaming service. The company has been entangled in a legal fight with Apple since 2019 when it complained to the European Commission about the App Store rules.
In March 2024, the European Commission found Apple guilty of breaching the EU’s antitrust laws by not approving a Spotify update with in-app subscription information and links, fining the iPhone maker over €1.8 billion.