The only reason I sign up for any streaming service at all is because if I go through Apple, I can immediately turn around and cancel it after I sign up. I'll still get the 30 days I paid for, and I don't have to worry about forgetting to cancel later.
Which is probably precisely why Disney and Hulu don't want you to go through Apple.
That's not because you're doing it through Apple. You still get the remainder of your 30 days if you sign up and cancel via Spotify's website. The reason they're eliminating in-app purchases is they lose 30% to Apples in-app purchase commission. Other companies handle the situation by charging a different price to Apple app store people (something like +30%).
Over the years I've frequently signed up for streaming services for one or two months and then canceled. Disney+, Hulu, Max, Netflix, Paramount+, Mubi, etc.
I've literally never had a problem canceling. This is a bogeyman. It's as easy direct as it is via Apple. In fact, it's easier direct, because Apple refuses to keep you logged in to your account, so you have to enter your Apple ID password over and over again. So annoying.
By signing up through Apple you are guaranteed to have an easy way to cancel. With many subscription services it is very difficult to cancel. Sometimes a service you can sign up for using Apple is easy to cancel even if you sign up outside of Apple. But why take the risk if you can sign up through Apple?
This reply is unhinged, and it violates the HN guidelines.
My point was that anything you can do via Apple, you can do direct. You can subscribe direct and immediately turn around and cancel after you sign up. That's not unique to Apple, as other comments here have also noted.
I recently canceled both to get a different bundling deal, and it was super easy to cancel both, and the services didn't end until the date I had paid.
I use a more low tech approach. If I sign up for a service X that automatically renews I simply add an "X renews" periodic item to my calendar for 1 week before the renewal.
Which is probably precisely why Disney and Hulu don't want you to go through Apple.
Disney is halting new subscriptions through Apple to minimize Apple's usurious rates for handling payments.
Also, it's standard that if you cancel a streaming subscription during the month (after you'vepaid for the month) you get until the end of the month to continue to use it. Apple did not invent that. Netflix has had that for over a decade. Hulu and Disney+ have both had that since they launched.
I really wish the FTC would crack down on blocking access when you cancel regardless oh how long you have paid for. It seems really unfair to consumers.
I didn't realize streaming services did this. Which ones don't give you the rest of the month that you paid for? I cancelled Hulu recently (not through Apple at all) and they informed me of the date I had service through, and I was able to watch Hulu for the rest of that month.
I'm OP, but I didn't mean to imply one wouldn't get the full month, but more to emphasize the ease of cancellation via Apple. It's a consistent UI, no shenanigans, couple of clicks, done. Is cancelling through the streaming service a pain in the ass? Maybe, maybe not; but I'm much less inclined to sign up at the risk of finding out the hard way.
I believe I've seen some that distinguish between cancelling and disabling renewal and let you do either. Cancelling stops the service immediately. Disabling renewal stops the service when the current term runs out.
This is a weird comment. You signed up through Apple, so if you were accidentally billed after canceling, that was Apple's fault, not Disney's.
Also, of course Disney can't give you a refund if Apple is the one who is billing you.
As an App Store developer myself, let me inform you: when Apple handles the billing, App Store developers have no access to customer information or transactions.
The only reason I sign up for any streaming service at all is because if I go through Apple, I can immediately turn around and cancel it after I sign up. I'll still get the 30 days I paid for, and I don't have to worry about forgetting to cancel later.
Which is probably precisely why Disney and Hulu don't want you to go through Apple.
That's not because you're doing it through Apple. You still get the remainder of your 30 days if you sign up and cancel via Spotify's website. The reason they're eliminating in-app purchases is they lose 30% to Apples in-app purchase commission. Other companies handle the situation by charging a different price to Apple app store people (something like +30%).
Over the years I've frequently signed up for streaming services for one or two months and then canceled. Disney+, Hulu, Max, Netflix, Paramount+, Mubi, etc.
I've literally never had a problem canceling. This is a bogeyman. It's as easy direct as it is via Apple. In fact, it's easier direct, because Apple refuses to keep you logged in to your account, so you have to enter your Apple ID password over and over again. So annoying.
By signing up through Apple you are guaranteed to have an easy way to cancel. With many subscription services it is very difficult to cancel. Sometimes a service you can sign up for using Apple is easy to cancel even if you sign up outside of Apple. But why take the risk if you can sign up through Apple?
Sign up for SiriusXM and then try to cancel.
> With many subscription services it is very difficult to cancel.
You gave one example. One is not many.
It's not true of Disney and Hulu, so the OP's claim "Which is probably precisely why Disney and Hulu don't want you to go through Apple" was false.
The bottom line is that it's not worth it to these companies for Apple to take 30% of their revenue just to be a payment processor.
[flagged]
This reply is unhinged, and it violates the HN guidelines.
My point was that anything you can do via Apple, you can do direct. You can subscribe direct and immediately turn around and cancel after you sign up. That's not unique to Apple, as other comments here have also noted.
Except for Apple stuff itself. Cancelling an Apple Arcade trial for example immediately cancels the trial right then and there.
Rules for thee but not for me?
> Rules for thee but not for me?
No, you are attempting to compare a trial and paid subscription.
This is very untrue.
I recently canceled both to get a different bundling deal, and it was super easy to cancel both, and the services didn't end until the date I had paid.
I use a more low tech approach. If I sign up for a service X that automatically renews I simply add an "X renews" periodic item to my calendar for 1 week before the renewal.
https://privacy.com
Which is probably precisely why Disney and Hulu don't want you to go through Apple.
Disney is halting new subscriptions through Apple to minimize Apple's usurious rates for handling payments.
Also, it's standard that if you cancel a streaming subscription during the month (after you'vepaid for the month) you get until the end of the month to continue to use it. Apple did not invent that. Netflix has had that for over a decade. Hulu and Disney+ have both had that since they launched.
I really wish the FTC would crack down on blocking access when you cancel regardless oh how long you have paid for. It seems really unfair to consumers.
I didn't realize streaming services did this. Which ones don't give you the rest of the month that you paid for? I cancelled Hulu recently (not through Apple at all) and they informed me of the date I had service through, and I was able to watch Hulu for the rest of that month.
I'm OP, but I didn't mean to imply one wouldn't get the full month, but more to emphasize the ease of cancellation via Apple. It's a consistent UI, no shenanigans, couple of clicks, done. Is cancelling through the streaming service a pain in the ass? Maybe, maybe not; but I'm much less inclined to sign up at the risk of finding out the hard way.
WRC+ does this.
I believe I've seen some that distinguish between cancelling and disabling renewal and let you do either. Cancelling stops the service immediately. Disabling renewal stops the service when the current term runs out.
I canceled my subscription a few weeks ago and was just billed again two days ago. Surprise surprise.
I asked Apple for a refund and got one fairly quickly, no questions asked.
Somehow Disney can’t handle this
This is a weird comment. You signed up through Apple, so if you were accidentally billed after canceling, that was Apple's fault, not Disney's.
Also, of course Disney can't give you a refund if Apple is the one who is billing you.
As an App Store developer myself, let me inform you: when Apple handles the billing, App Store developers have no access to customer information or transactions.