Deceptive in-app purchase free trial flow
💚 healthproduct problemSingle report ●●●●●
A Sleep Cycle app user reports that the app forces a free trial upon download without clear prior disclosure in the App Store and lacks an obvious exit button to bypass the subscription offer.
What people do today
- Force closing the app
- Deleting the app immediately
- Checking App Store descriptions for subscription details
🔧 Fix this
Ideas a builder, maker or community group could start on:
- A browser extension that scans App Store pages and highlights hidden subscription requirements or forced trial flows.
- A community-driven database app where users report and verify the 'exitability' of onboarding paywalls for popular apps.
- A policy proposal requiring app stores to mandate a standardized 'skip' button on all initial onboarding screens that lead to paid subscriptions.
Real voices
“On the in app purchase part of the App Store it doesn’t say anything about a free trial but when you download the app it makes u do a free trial. It doesn’t have an X to get rid of it like other apps do.”
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