The News, Explained
On November 4, Apple launched retention messages for App Store subscriptions. When an app maker enables the feature for an auto-renewing subscription, it can show a reason to stay or a special offer as a subscriber goes through cancellation. An auto-renewing subscription continues into the next billing period unless canceled. Developers set up the messages in App Store Connect, Apple’s tool for managing apps and subscriptions. Source Source
Text is the starting point for a message made in App Store Connect. If the developer adds a picture, the screen can show it alongside the text. If the developer links a retention offer and the subscriber qualifies, a discount or free period can appear in place of the picture. A message without a picture or an offer can appear as text alone. Source
Two people on the same subscription can see different screens. Developers can set a minimum period of paid membership for each offer, a wait before redeeming the same offer again, and the countries or regions where it is available. For example, if an offer required three months of paid membership and all other conditions were equal, someone who had paid for one month and someone who had paid for four would qualify differently. Three months is an example. Source
The offer appears during cancellation. To see the current state on an iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, select Subscriptions, and open the subscription. Apple Support says that if there is no cancel button or a red expiration message appears, the subscription is already canceled. That status helps separate the offer you saw along the way from the current state of your subscription. Source Source
OYOPICK’s Take
Since the discount and its duration can vary even for the same subscription, the offer is easier to judge when you can see how long it lasts and how much you will pay afterward. An offer could help someone who was leaving because of the price. For people who still want to leave, we hope continuing to cancel is as easy to find as accepting the deal. Source