iOS App Terms of Service: What Apple Requires and What You Need

When you publish an app on the Apple App Store, you enter into a layered legal relationship: with Apple (through their Developer Agreement and App Store Review Guidelines), and with your users (through your own Terms of Service). Many developers assume Apple's standard End User License Agreement (EULA) is sufficient — it is not. You need your own Terms of Service that covers your specific app's features, subscription terms, and content policies.

Apple's Required EULA and When to Supplement It

Apple provides a standard EULA template that applies to all apps by default. This standard EULA covers basic usage rights and limited Apple liability. However, if your app includes any of the following, you must provide a custom EULA: subscription services, in-app purchases, user accounts, enterprise licensing, B2B features, or content that is not appropriate for all ages. Our generator creates a custom EULA that supplements Apple's standard terms with provisions specific to your app.

In-App Purchases and Subscriptions: The Most Litigated Area

Apple's App Store rules for in-app purchases are extremely specific, and your Terms of Service must align with them. Key requirements: all digital content must be sold through Apple's IAP system (not through a third-party payment processor within the app), subscription cancellation instructions must be clearly disclosed and must direct users to their Apple account settings, free trial terms must clearly state what happens when the trial ends and at what price, and price changes for subscriptions require advance notice and user consent.

App Store Review Guidelines Compliance

Apple's App Store Review Guidelines require that your Terms of Service be: accessible within the app (not just on a website), written in plain language that users can reasonably understand, and consistent with your actual app behavior. Apple reviewers will read your Terms during the review process and may reject your app if the Terms are missing required disclosures or if they contradict how the app actually functions.

Age Restrictions and COPPA Compliance

If your iOS app may be used by users under 13, you must implement Apple's age gating requirements and your Terms must include COPPA-compliant parental consent provisions. Apple's Kids Category has additional restrictions. Even for apps not in the Kids Category, your Terms should specify a minimum age requirement (typically 13+) and require users to confirm they meet this requirement during account creation.