Apple lets Spotify show pricing information to EU users in iPhone app

Spotify said it has received permission from Apple to display pricing information on its iOS app for users in the European Union, following a years-long legal battle with the company.

Spotify has announced that starting Wednesday, iPhone users in the EU will be able to see pricing information in the app, as well as the fact that they will be able to make a purchase directly on the company’s website.

“iPhone customers in the EU will now benefit from our end-of-summer promotional pricing,” Spotify said in an updated blog post. “They will finally be able to see how much their chosen Premium plan costs once the promotion ends.”

The music streaming company is not following Apple’s complicated new business rules under the Digital Markets Act, but is instead taking advantage of Apple’s “authorizations” to use its music streaming services. This follows a March 4 decision by the European Commission, which found that Apple had breached EU antitrust law and fined it more than €1.8 billion.

The upshot of this approach is that Spotify still isn’t able to let users click a like to make purchases outside of the App Store. Spotify could do that if it opted into Apple’s new developer terms, but it would also have to give Apple a cut of off-platform sales, and the company doesn’t see that as a viable option.

“Unfortunately, Spotify and all other music streaming services in the EU are still unable to freely give consumers the option to click on a link to make an in-app purchase because of the illegal and predatory taxes that Apple continues to demand, despite the Commission’s ruling.

“The fight is on. iPhone consumers everywhere deserve basic information about how much things cost, when they can get great deals and promotions, and where to buy those things online. If the European Commission enforces its decision properly, iPhone consumers could see even more benefits, such as cheaper payment options and better in-app experiences.”

Spotify has been in a legal dispute with Apple in the EU since 2019, when it filed an antitrust complaint over App Store rules. Back in March, Spotify complained to the Commission that Apple had failed to approve a Spotify update that added subscription pricing information and links to its website.