Apple finally lets ‘reader’ apps like Kindle, Netflix, and Spotify link to their own sites

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

According to an announcement from the company on Wednesday, Apple is making good on its promise to let some developers link out to their own sites from within their apps. The new rules, which go into effect today, allow developers ofreader apps to link out to their sites for things like account management or creation.

The bad user experience for these types of apps is caused by Apple's previous rules. If you downloaded the app but didn't have an account, you weren't allowed to get a link to sign up. That made it difficult for users who didn't have accounts and forced developers who didn't want to use Apple's in-app payment system to make a better experience for potential customers. Developers should be able to make a button that takes you to their website.

It is possible for developers to add a sign-up link to their app and be done with it. You will have to request an entitlement before you can add an external link. If a developer links a user to their site, they have to put up a screen explaining that purchases made through Apple won't be accepted. They have to link to an Apple page that explains the risks associated with giving your info to a third-party developer.

Image: Apple

There are requirements that apply to the link. For example:

• The link must open in a browser, not an in-app web view.
• No additional data or parameters can be passed to the website.
• Your app can’t contain text explaining how much things on your website will cost (for example, Netflix can’t say “tap this button to sign up for Netflix, starting at $9.99 a month”).

Changes to apps will be reviewed by Apple. There will probably be some growing pains where developers think their app is in compliance with Apple guidelines, but App Review disagrees.

Apple said it would help close an antimonopoly investigation from Japanese regulators when it announced this change in September. There were questions about what Apple meant when it said that developers could share a single link. If it shows the same message in each instance, you can use that link.

This change is relatively limited in scope. If you want to be eligible for the entitlement, you have to meet a lot of Apple's requirements. The sign-up experience for some apps should be a little less ridiculous because of this change.