Spotify’s Latest iOS Update Lets US Users Purchase Audiobooks

Apple approved a new update for the Spotify iOS app that lets US users see pricing information for audiobooks and purchase them right from the app. Spotify Premium users can also purchase additional “Top Up” hours for audiobook listening beyond the 15 hours per month included in their subscription.

“This is thanks to the recent U.S. court ruling in Epic Games v. Apple,” Spotify emphasized in the announcement. “This change lowers the barriers for more users to embrace their first – or tenth – audiobook, while allowing publishers and authors to reach fans and access new audiences seamlessly. It also helps level the playing field by allowing all developers to offer basic pricing information and easy-to-access links for consumers to purchase digital goods and services through iPhones with no unnecessary steps or additional taxes levied by Apple.”

Spotify started offering audiobooks for purchase back in 2022, but iPhone users had to buy them from the web due to Apple’s strict rules on in-app purchases. A year later, the company started offering Premium users 15 hours of audiobook listening per month in select markets, all while continuing to sell audiobooks on demand on the web.

Along with Epic Games, Spotify has been one of the main companies pressuring Apple to stop its anticompetitive practices and allow app developers to freely communicate with their customers and sell them content without using Apple’s payment system. After a US federal judge ordered Apple to stop its illegal behavior on April 30, Spotify quickly submitted an app update with external payment options. While Apple had to approve this previous update that introduced clear pricing information and links to purchase to US users, the company is appealing the decision, which means the fight isn’t over yet.