How Developers Can Offer In-App Purchase Content to Schools and Businesses

By: Andrea Menotti, Consulting Engineer

Every app in the consumer App Store is available for schools and businesses to acquire in volume in Apple School Manager and Apple Business Manager. While many developers offer apps as a single, up-front purchase (often priced at a volume discount for school customers), some developers use other business models that involve In-App Purchase. Because Apple School Manager and Apple Business Manager do not support In-App Purchase, developers can choose from several other options to support schools and businesses. Let’s discuss a few ways that App Store developers can create a great experience for institutional customers while maintaining their In-App Purchase model for individuals.

Account-Based Access

This is one of the most common models used by major education and enterprise developers. Developers who sell direct have their own sales teams and their own methods to handle institutional purchase orders. Typically the developer sells their product directly to the school or business customer, the app is downloaded for free, and the end user accesses the content with a login. This model works very well when integrated with options for enabling modern authentication with Single Sign-On (SSO) on Mac and iPad. 

Use ManagedApp Framework

Sometimes an app does not support account-based access. In these cases, some developers use a Managed App Configuration to supply an organization identifier or license key to their app. With the new ManagedApp framework, this option has become even more powerful. The framework works in conjunction with Device Management to provide streamlined and secure access to secrets and configurations. With ManagedApp framework, an administrator can securely deliver passwords, certificates, identities or license keys provided by the developer, potentially enabling a full experience inside the App, with no In-App Purchase or account login required.

Create a Custom App

Another option is a custom app delivered only to Apple School Manager and Apple Business Manager organizations that the developer specifies. The developer can include all necessary In-App Purchase content in the app, already unlocked, for an up-front fee that the school or business pays in advance. The fee might be paid directly to the developer, or units of the app could be purchased in Apple School or Business Manager just as they would with a standard “paid” app.

When a developer chooses this model, they will usually offer a contact form or email address to request access to the custom app. The school or business will provide their Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager Organization ID, and the developer will include that Organization ID in their list of approved organizations in App Store Connect.

When deploying a custom app, the school or business needs to ensure they have enabled Custom Apps in Preferences → Organization Settings in Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager. Custom Apps will show in their own tab in Apple School Manager → Apps and Books, ready to be acquired in volume. 

Custom apps must be enabled in Apple School Manager and Apple Business Manager.

Deploy an Unlisted App

An unlisted app is another option for developers to provide a full-featured version of their app to schools. When using unlisted app, the developer does not need to collect Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager Organization IDs. Instead, the developer will supply a URL to their app’s unlisted product page. Customers can paste that unlisted URL into the search field in the Apps and Books section of Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager, and the app will appear, ready for purchase.

Unlisted apps do not appear in search on the consumer App Store, so consumers will continue to be directed to the standard version of the app when browsing. There is a chance that the URL for the unlisted app could be discovered unintentionally, however, which may make one of the other models a better option for some developers.

How to Work with Developers

If your school would like to purchase an app that utilizes an In-App Purchase model, reach out to the developer directly to let them know that you want to be their customer! Most developers are excited to learn that a school wants to deploy their app in volume, and will often work with you to implement one of the methods outlined in this article. You could even send them a link to this post so they understand their options. If the developer needs guidance, please reach out to your local Apple sales team for assistance. Our Developer Relations team can help encourage developers to explore new ways broaden the audience for their apps to school and business customers. Hearing about your interest can motivate them to make the leap into a new market!