Apple’s Predatory Free Trial

This might be various things, but “predatory” is not the right term for not allowing the user to benefit from a free promotion when he or she does not want to continue it. They even make clear exactly what will happen, no dark UI pattern involved.<p>I agree that this is a step back for Apple, we should keep the outrage for things that merit it.

I don&#x27;t get it.<p>One seems to be a free trial, the other a paid service. Is the complaint that if you cancel your <i>free</i> trial it ends right away instead of running for a year?<p>They are <i>canceling</i> the trial - the user wants it to end!

Ok .. but the user cancelled the free trial. Even then, if they didn’t, about a month before the trial ends Apple sends an email (for any subscription, even yearly non-trial renewals). Afterwards, about a week before, they send another reminder. The reality is they’re extremely up front with it all, so perhaps we should put away the pitchforks for once Twitter :).

I always thought it was generous when you were allowed to schedule your cancellation of a free trial.<p>The choice Apple presents a user of a free trial is not predatory, it&#x27;s just not &quot;very generous&quot;. A 1 year trial, though is super generous, even if you can&#x27;t schedule the cancelation.

I’m late to this, but the real point that should be made is that Apple does not allow this functionality for any developer on the App Store, just themselves. Developers have to respect the free trial period even if the user cancels, but not Apple.<p>As much as I enjoy Apple products, it’s very clear this is just another example of the privilege they provide themselves compared to third-parties. It doesn’t affect me since I’m not subscribing to any of Apple’s service offerings despite using all Apple products, thus it doesn’t bother me either, but I can see why some might be.

I can try something without an expectation to purchase it. Have you ever tried a sample at a grocery store knowing you won&#x27;t buy the item, but perhaps down the line you will? That&#x27;s possible for Apple users too. They were promised a one year trial, not conditional on a purchase.

A free trial is intended for you to decide whether or not to subscribe. If you already know you won’t, it’s not a trial, it’s just free, and arguably signing up like that is not acting in good faith.

How does trial cancelling interface look for other apps? The one from the twitter post looks like cancelling of the paid subscription

I just set a reminder for +1 year minus 2 days in my calendar and live happily knowing I&#x27;ll be notified when the time is right.

This is not predatory or a dark pattern.