Apple’s New Subscription Management Prompt Seems to Be Working

In recent years, there has been a rise in subscription apps employing dark patterns to push expensive subscriptions, leading to consumer exploitation. While some may argue that certain apps provide value justifying their cost, the lack of consumer protection has allowed predatory pricing and scams to flourish, partly because major platforms like Apple and Google benefit financially from these practices. However, Apple has taken steps to address this issue with iOS 13, which prompts users to consider keeping or canceling subscriptions when they delete an app. RevenueCat's analysis of subscription data shows that this change has resulted in a statistically significant decrease in trial conversion rates, suggesting that the prompt is effective in preventing unwanted subscriptions. Despite the overall trend, the specific impact varies by app and may not solely indicate fraudulent behavior, as other factors like marketing strategies and user intentions can influence conversion rates. The initiative appears to align consumer interests with those of Apple and developers, potentially fostering a healthier subscription ecosystem.