App Store Reject

Guideline 3.1.3

Guideline 3.1.3(d) - Person-to-Person Services: Claiming Exception for Group Classes

High SeverityHard FixTypical Fix: 1-3 days0 Reports
Also known as:Group classes do not qualify for person-to-person services exceptionPre-recorded content charged through external paymentOne-to-many live sessions using external payment instead of IAPWorkshop or webinar payments bypass IAP under person-to-person claim

Our Take

Apple is rejecting your app because it claims the person-to-person services exception (which allows real-time one-on-one services like tutoring, medical consultations, and personal training to use external payment) for group classes, pre-recorded content, or one-to-many services that do not qualify. The person-to-person exception under 3.1.3(d) is specifically for real-time, one-on-one services between two individuals. It covers scenarios like a student paying a specific tutor for a live session, a patient paying a specific doctor for a telehealth visit, or a client paying a specific trainer for a personal workout. The service must be performed by a specific identified person for a specific identified customer in real time. Group fitness classes, pre-recorded webinars, one-to-many workshops, and asynchronous courses do not qualify. Even if a live instructor leads the class, if multiple participants attend simultaneously, it is a one-to-many service and must use IAP.

Resolution Guide

01

Categorize your services

Separate your offerings into two categories:

  • One-on-one real-time sessions with a specific provider (eligible for external payment)

    • - Group classes, recorded content, and one-to-many sessions (must use IAP)

    02

    Implement IAP for group/recorded content

    Use StoreKit for any content or service that is not a real-time, one-on-one interaction. This includes group classes, pre-recorded videos, courses, and workshops.

    03

    Keep external payment for qualifying services

    Genuine one-on-one, real-time sessions (private tutoring, personal training, telehealth) can continue using external payment.

    04

    Make the distinction clear in your UI

    The purchase flow should make it obvious which services are one-on-one and which are group/recorded.

    05

    Document your service model

    In Review Notes, explain which services use IAP and which use external payment, with justification for each.

    Prevention

  • Only claim the person-to-person exception for services that are genuinely real-time and one-on-one
  • Use IAP as the default for all digital content and services, then carve out only the qualifying one-on-one services
  • When in doubt about whether a service qualifies, use IAP

    • Example Rejection Email

    From:Apple App Review Team
    Subject:Guideline 3.1.3 - Guideline 3.1.3(d) - Person-to-Person Se
    Guideline 3.1.3(d) - Business - Payments - Services We found that your app uses external payment for services that do not qualify for the person-to-person services exception. Specifically, the app charges users through an external payment method for group fitness classes and recorded workout sessions. The person-to-person services provision applies to real-time, one-on-one services between individuals, not group classes, pre-recorded content, or one-to-many sessions. Next Steps: Please revise the app to use in-app purchase for group classes and pre-recorded content. Individual, real-time, one-on-one sessions with a specific provider may continue to use external payment if they meet the person-to-person criteria.

    Consider Appealing

    Appeal only if Apple misidentified the service type -- e.g., if you offer genuinely one-on-one sessions that the reviewer mistook for group sessions. Provide screenshots and documentation showing the one-to-one nature of the sessions.

    Generate Appeal

    Before & After

    Before — Rejected

    Yoga app charges for all classes (group and private) through Stripe, claiming the person-to-person exception for everything including 30-person live group classes and pre-recorded sessions

    After — Approved

    Private one-on-one yoga sessions with a specific instructor use external payment; group classes and recorded sessions are available via IAP subscription

    What changed: The person-to-person exception only applies to real-time, one-on-one services. Group and recorded content must use IAP.

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