Don’t pay the Apple tax, Spotify says, pay for Premium on our website instead

By Andre Revilla July 8, 2015

spotify premium users pay through site not itunes event 5 19 2 — Jessica Lee Star/Digital Trends

Spotify recently sent out a guide to iPhone subscribers who pay through the Apple App Store to help them set up their subscription payments through its website instead. Not only will its subscribers pay less if they go through Spotify, but they’ll avoid the so-called Apple tax on all payments processed through iTunes.

Currently, subscribers of Spotify’s music streaming service pay $10 a month when signed up directly through the company’s website. Users who are paying through the App Store, however, are paying $13 a month. The difference exists to take into account the 30 percent that Apple takes from each and every app purchase made through its own stores.

The Verge first spotted the guide that’s being sent out to Spotify subscribers, which details exactly how to cancel their auto-renew subscription in the App Store, and sign up for Spotify Premium directly through the company’s website.

The guide reads, “In case you didn’t know, the normal Premium price is only $9.99, but Apple charges 30 percent on all payments made through iTunes,” adding that, “You can get the exact same Spotify for only $9.99/month, and it’s super simple.” The subscriber-wide email goes on to succinctly list the exact steps necessary to cut the chain with Apple and save yourself a few dollars a month.

Unfortunately if users end their auto-renews to switch payment methods in the middle of a billing cycle, there maybe some temporary service loss until the next month begins. If you’re considering the switch, it would be best to wait until your month is almost up, and survive without your Spotify premium for just a few days.

Apple has received some complaints in the past over its 30-percent fee from all App store sales, though there are reports that the company may be changing the requirement in the near future.

Spotify’s new guide may not be an act of professional rivalry, since Apple Music hasn’t even made a dent in Spotify’s subscriber numbers yet. However, it could be a proactive measure to keep iPhone users on Spotify. Once Apple Music’s free trial ends, it will cost $10 a month, too, or $15 a month for a family plan.

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Andre Revilla is an entrepreneur and writer from Austin, TX that has been working in and covering the consumer tech space for…

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