Spotify is working on an update that could allow iPhone users in the U.S. to purchase audiobooks directly through external links. The update, which has been submitted to Apple for approval, would also let Premium users buy extra audiobook listening time, referred to as “top-ups.”
This move comes after a ruling in the Epic Games v. Apple case, where Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in violation of a previous 2021 injunction. The judge ordered Apple to stop taking up to a 27% commission on purchases made through external links and to stop limiting how developers can direct users to make purchases outside of the App Store.
In response to this, Spotify has started allowing users to buy subscriptions through external links. The company now aims to extend this to audiobooks, a major shift for the app.
Previously, Spotify attempted to bypass Apple’s restrictions by not showing audiobook prices in the app. Instead, users would receive an email with a link to purchase the audiobooks online. However, Spotify eventually removed audiobook purchases from iOS altogether.
Spotify sees this update as a step toward a more level playing field, allowing developers to display basic pricing information and provide direct purchase links without additional steps or taxes imposed by Apple. “This freedom is a win for authors, audiences, and developers everywhere,” Spotify wrote in its post.
While Apple has appealed the decision and asked the court to pause the ruling, other apps, including Kindle, Patreon, and Delta’s emulator, are already benefiting from the relaxed policies.
If the update is approved, it could change how audiobooks are sold on iPhones, giving users a more seamless purchasing experience.
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