1. Set Up Products in App Store Connect

1. 1 Go to App Store Connect → Your App → Features → In-App Purchases
2. 2 Click "+" and choose product type (Consumable, Non-Consumable, Auto-Renewable, Non-Renewing)
3. 3 Set Reference Name, Product ID, Price, and localized Display Name/Description
4. 4 Submit for review (products must be approved before they work in production)

2. Implement StoreKit 2 (Swift)

import StoreKit

// Fetch products
let products = try await Product.products(for: ["com.app.premium"])

// Purchase
let result = try await product.purchase()
switch result {
case .success(let verification):
    let transaction = try checkVerified(verification)
    // Grant access to content
    await transaction.finish()
case .userCancelled, .pending:
    break
}

// Restore purchases
for await result in Transaction.currentEntitlements {
    let transaction = try checkVerified(result)
    // Re-grant access
}

3. Required UI Elements

"Can I just tell users it's cheaper on my website?"

Absolutely not. You can't mention pricing differences. You can't link to your website's pricing page. You can't put a winking emoji next to "manage subscription." Apple's reviewers have seen every creative workaround and they're not amused.

"How much does Apple actually take?"

30% is the standard rate. But there's the App Store Small Business Program: if you made under $1M last year, you pay only 15%. Subscriptions also drop to 15% after a user stays subscribed for 12+ continuous months. Still painful, but less painful.

"I sell both physical products AND digital subscriptions. What do I do?"

You use both. Physical goods (t-shirts, food, event tickets) go through Stripe/PayPal. Digital content (premium features, ad-free, subscriptions) goes through IAP. Just keep them clearly separate—don't let users "buy credits" that work for both.

"My app was approved before, why is it getting rejected now?"

Apple's enforcement evolves. Something that slipped through in 2022 might get flagged in 2025. Also, different reviewers have different interpretations. And if you added or changed any payment flows since the last approval, those get scrutinized fresh.

"What about users who already subscribed on web?"

They're fine. Existing web subscribers can log in and access their content. You just can't direct NEW users to purchase outside the app. This is how Netflix and Spotify work—they don't offer in-app signup, but existing subscribers can use the app normally.

"Is there any way around this?"

Legally? The "reader app" exception (Netflix model) requires Apple approval and only works for content consumption apps. The EU's Digital Markets Act forces Apple to allow alternative payment in the EU starting 2024. Outside the EU? For most apps, IAP is the only way.