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Comment by fkyoureadthedoc | Hacker News Reader

Why not? I'd personally never go somewhere else to pay for your subscription or content. Maybe if you were a big time player that didn't have an appealing alternative, like Netflix. But for the average app, like Planta or Breethe, I'm just switching to an app that has an in app purchase if yours doesn't.

Semi-related, but I also always pick an app that has family sharing of subscription over one that doesn't too (Headspace --> Breethe)

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> I'd personally never go somewhere else to pay for your subscription or content.

When "going elsewhere" means "getting stuff cheaper", people are likely going to go elsewhere to pay for any subscription even if setup is notably less convenient.

Depends how much cheaper.

If my Shonen Jump subscription goes from $2 to $1.70, I'd rather pay the 30 cents than have to click and type for 2 minutes, and then have to solve a mystery to cancel it later.

If my ChatGPT Pro (hypothetical, I don't pay for that) went from $200 to $170, maybe worth it.

why not let everyone decide for themselves if they want to pay the extra to do the purchase in app?

Explain to me where I made the argument that they shouldn't?

Your first comment where you said "Why not?" to a comment questioning the clause that apps are required to use in-app purchases would be read as supporting Apple's restrictions, i.e. no user choice.

The wording here seems, to me, to have some silly limitations. For example, there are apps I have thought would make a nice gift for a friend before, and the easiest way to do this is to buy an unlock key and send it to them.

But, with these rules, I guess the goal is that I have to send them a gift card instead? I'll just not bother and get them something else.

Probably.

Though you could make the argument that it would be more complex than it's worth. There's regional issues, like can I redeem your gift code from cdkeys.ru in the US. Can I return the app afterward if I don't want it for a 160 rubles credit? They might already need to handle that stuff for gift cards though.

Apple has an integrated “gift this app” function in their app store. I’m not sure you can use it for in-app purchases, however.

That makes no sense, using Paypal or Stripe is very normal on the web. There is no reason why it should be any different in apps except for Apple trying to gaslight us.

My personal opinion makes no sense? I don't really care if an app only has subscriptions or purchases through their website, I'm just saying that I wouldn't use it when there's an easier and more convenient alternative available.

Adopting the language of the abused to describe being inconvenienced by the company that makes your phone is uhh, something.

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