# Guideline 3.1.2(c) - Business - Payments - Subscriptions: Unclear Auto-Renewable Subscription Terms

**Guideline:** 3.1.2(c) · **Store:** Apple App Store · **Risk:** low · **Difficulty:** easy · **Typical turnaround:** 1-2 hours

Canonical URL: https://appstorereject.com/rejections/apple/3/guideline-312c-business-payments-subscriptions-unclear-auto-renewable-subscription-terms

## Description

Apple is flagging your subscription purchase flow for not clearly communicating free trial terms and subsequent billing. This is typically an automated detection based on screen analysis during review, triggered when the trial period duration or post-trial pricing isn't prominently displayed in the purchase UI. The root cause is usually missing or insufficiently prominent disclosure text in your paywall or subscription screen. This is a straightforward compliance fix - Apple wants users to understand exactly what they're agreeing to before subscribing. The fastest path to approval is adding clear, prominent text that states both the trial duration and the exact amount that will be charged after the trial ends.

## Common variations

- The app offers a free trial or introductory period but does not make it clear that a payment will be automatically initiated for the next subscription period.
- The subscription purchase screen does not clearly indicate the trial duration and billing amount that will be charged after the free trial.
- Auto-renewable subscription terms are not sufficiently clear about when billing begins and the amount that will be charged.
- The free trial offer lacks clear disclosure of the subscription price and billing frequency after the trial period ends.
- Users may be confused about subscription terms due to unclear presentation of trial duration and subsequent billing information.

## Example rejection email

```
Guideline 3.1.2(c) - Business - Payments - Subscriptions

Issue Description

One or more auto-renewable subscriptions are marketed in the purchase flow in a way that may mislead or confuse users about the subscription terms or pricing. Specifically:

- The app offers a free trial or introductory period but does not make it clear that a payment will be automatically initiated for the next subscription period.
- The subscription purchase screen does not clearly indicate the trial duration and billing amount.

Next Steps

To resolve this issue, it would be appropriate to:

- Revise the auto-renewable subscription purchase flow to clearly indicate how long the free trial lasts and the amount that will be billed after the free trial is over.
- Ensure this information is prominently displayed and easily readable by users before they confirm their purchase.
```

## Resolution steps

## Quick Assessment
- **Risk level:** Low
- **Resolution path:** Fix & Resubmit
- **Typical turnaround:** 1-2 hours to implement, 24-48 hours for review

## The Fix

01. **Add prominent trial disclosure text**
   Add clear text above or near your subscription buttons stating: "Free for [X days], then $[amount]/[period]" or "Start your free [X-day] trial. Cancel anytime. After trial, subscription automatically renews at $[amount]/[period] unless cancelled."

02. **Make disclosure text visually prominent**
   Ensure the disclosure text is in readable font size (minimum 12pt), high contrast color, and not hidden behind small text or fine print. Place it where users will see it before tapping subscribe.

03. **Include billing cycle information**
   Clearly state not just the price but the billing frequency (weekly, monthly, annually) and when the first charge occurs after the trial.

04. **Test the user flow**
   Walk through your subscription flow as a new user to ensure the trial terms and billing information are unmistakably clear at the point of purchase decision.

05. **Submit with detailed release notes**
   In your App Store Connect submission notes, briefly mention: "Updated subscription purchase flow to include clearer trial duration and billing disclosures per guideline 3.1.2(c)."

## Prevention
- Always include trial duration and post-trial billing amount in the same visual area as subscription options
- Use Apple's standard subscription disclosure language as a baseline
- Test subscription flows on actual devices to ensure text is readable and prominent

## Before / after examples

**Before:** A subscription screen showing 'Start Free Trial' button with pricing information buried in small text at the bottom.
**After:** The same screen with clear text above the button: 'Free for 7 days, then $9.99/month. Cancel anytime.'
**Why it works:** Makes trial duration and billing amount immediately visible to users before they subscribe.

**Before:** Subscription options displayed without clear indication of when billing begins or trial length.
**After:** Each subscription option shows 'Free trial: 7 days, then $X/period' directly below the plan name.
**Why it works:** Associates trial terms directly with each subscription tier for clarity.

## Common questions

**How long does this typically take to fix?**

Typical turnaround is 1-2 hours (difficulty: easy). After resubmission, most re-reviews complete within 24-48 hours.

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