Spotify announced Monday that Apple has approved its latest app update, allowing U.S. iPhone users to directly buy individual audiobooks within the Spotify app and see book prices upfront.
This update significantly simplifies audiobook purchasing, which previously required users to buy audiobooks on Spotify’s web platform before accessing them in-app. Spotify had previously suspended in-app audiobook purchases in 2022 due to Apple’s stringent policies regarding purchases made within applications. With this new approval from Apple, listeners now have a seamless experience to easily select and buy audiobook titles from their mobile devices.
In addition, the updated app enables users to purchase extra audiobook listening hours directly through Spotify, eliminating the previous need to navigate external websites. Users can add 10 hours of audiobook listening time, priced at $13, whenever they exceed their initial 15-hour allocation.
Spotify emphasized that these changes will help lower barriers for consumers, encouraging more people to start listening to audiobooks and enabling authors and publishers to more effectively reach new audiences.
This approval follows closely behind a recent landmark ruling in the U.S., which required Apple to loosen restrictions concerning off-App Store transactions, ultimately preventing Apple from charging fees on sales occurring outside its platform. Earlier this month, Spotify took advantage of the relaxed guidelines when Apple permitted an update allowing the app to display subscription prices and links to external payment systems.
