Three of the free-to-download iOS apps I’ve tried in the last few days have led with a nasty trap for the less-than-vigilant: If you even want to try this app, agree up front to an expensive (like, orders of magnitude more than a usual app), ongoing subscription that quietly and perpetually renews until you figure out how to stop it.
This upends the normal trial relationship of “If & only if you like this offering enough to buy/subscribe, take action to do so; otherwise you’re off the hook.” Screw that: these apps are getting summarily shitcanned.
Meanwhile I’m amazed that Apple allows this practice to continue.
These kind of things wind me up no end.
I guess there is nothing wrong with offering a service but the danger is people download without thinking, the modern world seems to generate traps based on the fact that people are generally in a hurry.
If I were Apple I would put in an extra stage to the confirmation process where in large letters it says “This will cost you xxxx after the next three days – are you sure you are happy to pay this until you cancel? – If people are then good, no problem.
You’re absolutely right. Not only is this mandatory subscription after a “free” trial a nasty way of doing business, but Apple makes it ridiculously complicated to find and cancel a subscription. I can’t believe Tim Cook wants to do business like that.
https://www.imore.com/how-to-cancel-app-store-subscription-ipad-iphone-mac-apple-tv
Yeah, or better/simpler still, just *ask for confirmation before beginning billing.*