Since the App Store‘s genesis, its payments system has empowered developers to set up and sell their products and services globally and conveniently.

The App Store’s commerce and payments system offers developers capabilities and tools to grow their businesses, from easier checkout and simple invoicing for users to complete marketing tools, tax and fraud services, and refund management.

In the final month of 2022, Apple announced some changes to the pricing structure of the App Store, with improvements adding 700 new price points. But what does this actually mean for you and your business?

Pricing Changes And Improvements

Pricing is foundational to the app store’s success. It enables developers to choose an appropriate business model to suit their needs, with options such as one-time purchases and multiple subscription types.

The new pricing enhancements have been available for apps offering auto-renewable subscriptions since 6th December. All other apps and in-app purchases will need to hold on until spring 2023.

The new price points give developers flexibility and control to price their products in 45 currencies throughout 175 storefronts.

Under the updated App Store pricing system, developers can select from 900 price points (nearly ten times the number previously available for most apps), including 600 new price points and an additional 100 higher price points available upon request.

In the announcement, Apple said: “To provide developers around the world with even more flexibility, price points — which will start as low as $0.29 and, upon request, go up to $10,000 — will offer an enhanced selection of price points, increasing incrementally across price ranges (for example, every $0.10 up to $10; every $0.50 between $10 and $50; etc.).”

What Does This Mean For Developers?

For developers distributing their apps worldwide, the App Store’s global equalisation tools give them a convenient way to manage pricing across international markets.

These enhancements expand upon existing capabilities, allowing developers to keep their local currency consistent in the storefront of their choice, even as foreign exchange and taxes fluctuate.

For example, Toronto app developers who get most of their business from Canadian customers can set their prices for the Canada storefront and update their prices outside the country automatically as foreign exchange and tax rates change. All developers will also be able to define each storefront’s availability of in-app purchases.

What Does This Mean For Users?

For users, it will mean a more consistent experience wherever they are in the world.

With the new changes for developers of the App Store having more control and price points to work with, the global reach of their product can increase without them having to focus on adjusting based on price or exchange rates.

The effects on users will likely be seen in action in late Spring 2023 once developers have had a chance to test the new pricing points and apply them to their live environment.

Until then, we have to assume this expansion will have a good and globally positive effect on the developers’ user bases and beyond.

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