Key Points:
- Spotify now allows U.S. iOS users to purchase audiobooks directly within the app using external payment links.
- Premium subscribers can buy extra listening time beyond the included 15 monthly hours.
- This change follows a court ruling in the Epic Games v. Apple case, loosening Apple’s control over in-app purchases.
- Spotify highlights the update as a win for users, authors, and developers, improving access and fairness.
- The feature’s future is uncertain, as ongoing legal challenges could impact its availability.
Spotify users in the U.S. can now buy audiobooks directly within the iOS Spotify app, and honestly, it’s about time. No more weird web redirects or head-scratching workarounds. Just tap, pay, and press play.
U.S. iPhone and iPad Users Can Now Purchase and Download Audio Books Straight From the Spotify App
So here’s the scoop: This change comes fresh off the heels of a legal win for Epic Games in their long-running battle with Apple over the App Store’s rules. Remember when Apple pretty much had a monopoly on in-app payments? That grip is starting to loosen, and Spotify wasted zero time jumping on the opportunity.
Now, instead of Apple taking a cut and making everything a little more complicated, Spotify can show you audiobook prices right in the app and link you out to pay using their own system. This means:
- You can buy individual audiobooks straight from your iPhone
- Premium users can top up their 15-hour monthly audiobook limit
- No more guessing games or digging through the web to make a purchase
In an update to an earlier press release, Spotify announced:
Spotify submitted a new app update that Apple has approved: Spotify users in the United States can now see pricing, buy individual audiobooks, and purchase additional “Top Up” hours for audiobook listening beyond the 15 hours included in Premium each month. This is thanks to the recent U.S. court ruling in Epic Games v. Apple. 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
As someone who’s been frustrated by Apple’s tight control over in-app payments (and who definitely listens to way too many true crime audiobooks), this is a very welcome change. It’s smooth, fast, and makes grabbing your next listen way more seamless.
What’s the Catch?
Of course, there’s a bit of a caveat. Spotify’s pretty clear that this newfound freedom could be temporary. Apple isn’t throwing in the towel just yet, and there’s still a lot of legal back-and-forth happening. If Apple gets its way in future court proceedings, this setup could go poof.
Related: How to Import Your Spotify Playlists into Apple Music (iPhone, Android, Web)
So while it’s here, we might as well enjoy it. And maybe, just maybe, this is the start of a more open, fair digital storefront for all kinds of content.
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