Implementing iOS Subscription Grace Periods

In September 2019, Apple introduced grace periods for iOS and macOS in-app subscriptions, allowing developers to extend a subscriber's access during billing issues, typically caused by declined credit cards. By enabling grace periods in App Store Connect and integrating support into their receipt verification servers, developers can provide uninterrupted app access while resolving billing problems. This feature requires parsing additional data fields in the StoreKit receipt, specifically a new entry in the pending renewal info section, to determine grace period expirations alongside regular transaction expirations. Apple’s approach is more complex than Google’s, which simplifies the process by directly modifying the transaction's expiration date. Tools like RevenueCat can automatically handle grace periods for both Apple and Google, streamlining the process for developers.