Introduction
Apple’s App Store Guideline 3.1.1 – Business > Payments > In-App Purchase requires that any paid digital content, services, or functionality in your app be sold through Apple’s in-app purchase system. If your app grants access to digital courses, subscriptions, or other content purchased elsewhere, you’ll see a rejection like:
Your app includes or accesses paid digital content, services, or functionality by means other than in-app purchase.
This guide explains how to comply by offering all digital goods through in-app purchases.
How to Resolve It
To address this issue, update your app to include the following safeguards:
- Offer all digital content via IAP: Make courses, memberships, tiers, credits, or points available for purchase through in-app purchases.
- Implement IAP in BuddyBoss App: Follow BuddyBoss’s documentation to create and configure your in-app products:
- Support Multiplatform Access: If users can buy elsewhere (e.g., on your website), don’t advertise or link to external payment methods inside the app; ensure IAP remains the primary purchase path. See Guideline 3.1.3(b) Multiplatform Services for more information.
- Handle Physical vs. Digital Goods: For digital certificates that result in a physical delivery, treat them as physical goods—external purchase is permitted without IAP.
Respond in App Store Connect
In the Resolution Center, reply with a note such as:
“We’ve implemented in-app purchases for all digital courses and subscriptions, and removed external purchase links from the app interface.”
What to keep in mind
Digital content—such as gift cards, certificates, vouchers, coupons, loot boxes, course memberships (including tiered levels), credits, or reward points—must be purchased through in-app purchases and not via external payment methods (for example, your website).
You may let users buy digital goods outside the app (e.g. on your website) for use in the app, provided you do not promote, advertise, or link to those external payment options from within the app itself.
If a “digital” certificate is ultimately printed and delivered as a physical item, it’s treated as a physical product. In that case, you may offer external payment methods and are not required to use in-app purchases.
Do I Need to Generate a New Build?
Yes. After configuring your in-app products and integrating IAP logic, generate a new iOS build and attach it to your resubmission for App Store review.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
Q: Can I still allow web-based purchases?
A: Yes, but you must not promote or link to external purchase flows within your app. Your IAP implementation must be fully functional and visible to users.
Q: What if I offer both digital and physical goods?
A: Physical goods (e.g., printed certificates) can be sold externally without IAP. Ensure only digital content is sold via in-app purchases.
Q: My app uses a third-party LMS—how do I add IAP?
A: Configure your BuddyBoss App’s IAP settings to map each LMS course or subscription tier to a corresponding in-app product in App Store Connect.
Q: I’ve set up IAP but still see the error.
A: Verify that your IAP products are “Ready to Submit” in App Store Connect and that your app code correctly calls StoreKit to fetch and process purchases before granting access.
