In a move that marks a significant shift in how digital content is sold on iOS, Spotify announced Monday that Apple has approved an app update allowing iPhone users in the U.S. to purchase audiobooks directly within the Spotify app. Users can now view audiobook prices, buy titles with just a few taps, and purchase additional listening hours — all without leaving the app.
“This change lowers the barriers for more users to embrace their first — or tenth—audiobook, while allowing publishers and authors to reach fans and access new audiences seamlessly,” Spotify said in a company blog post.
This long-awaited update follows a recent U.S. court ruling that restricts Apple from charging its controversial 30% fee on purchases made outside the App Store. For years, Spotify and other developers criticized Apple’s policies as anti-competitive, especially when it came to limiting access to external payment systems and in-app pricing visibility.
Until now, iPhone users interested in Spotify audiobooks had to complete their purchases on the web before accessing the content within the app. That restriction frustrated users and stifled audiobook sales, prompting Spotify to remove direct purchases in 2022 in protest of Apple’s strict App Store guidelines.
The latest update changes that. Spotify users can now browse audiobooks, see pricing, and make purchases seamlessly inside the iOS app.
Additionally, Spotify’s popular top-up feature, which lets users purchase more listening time beyond the 15 hours included in a standard audiobook purchase — can now be used directly in-app. A 10-hour top-up is priced at $13, and users previously had to leave the app to buy more time.
Earlier this month, Apple also approved another Spotify update enabling users to see subscription prices and click through to external payment links — a further indication that the tech giant is loosening its grip on App Store transactions, at least in some cases.
With these changes, Spotify is now offering a much more streamlined audiobook experience for iPhone users, while the broader tech industry continues watching how Apple adapts to mounting legal and regulatory pressure worldwide.
