It’s finally possible to buy an audiobook in the Spotify iPhone app with just a few taps. On Monday, Spotify announced that Apple has approved an update that allows users in the U.S. to see audiobook prices in the app and purchase individual audiobooks outside of the App Store.
The update also allows Spotify Premium subscribers to purchase additional hours of audiobooks. These changes follow a court ruling in the Epic Games v. Apple case last month that called into question the iPhone maker’s control over the App Store. According to the court’s decision, Apple cannot collect fees for purchases made outside the app store, nor can it control how developers point to external purchases.
Spotify presented the update last week, but now it is official. The music streaming service removed audiobooks from its iOS app in 2022 after accusing Apple of “stifling competition” through App Store rules that made it difficult to buy audiobooks. Earlier this month, Spotify also allowed iPhone users to purchase subscriptions outside the App Store.
The iOS apps for Kindle, Patreon, and the Delta emulator have also benefited from the court’s decision, but Epic Games is still fighting to get Fortnite back on the App Store. “This change lowers the barriers for more users to listen to their first – or tenth – audiobook, while allowing publishers and authors to seamlessly reach fans and access new audiences,” Spotify said in a statement.
