Apple App Store & Google Play Store Guidelines
Both Apple and Google require T&C for apps that involve payments, user accounts, or content moderation. Your T&C must comply with their policies or your app will be rejected or removed.
Key requirements:
- Public T&C link: Your app must link to a publicly accessible T&C document. Many apps embed it in the app or on a website.
- Clear pricing disclosure: Any costs, subscriptions, or in-app purchases must be disclosed clearly before purchase
- Cancellation process: Apple and Google both require easy subscription cancellation (within app for Apple, or linking to cancellation process)
- Privacy Policy: Required. A linked Privacy Policy is mandatory for any app collecting data
- Dispute resolution: Google requires arbitration clauses in certain jurisdictions
In-App Purchases & Subscription Terms
If your app sells digital content or features, your T&C must be explicit about how billing works.
Your T&C must state:
- Price and currency: Clearly state the price in AUD
- Trial periods: If offering a free trial, state exactly how many days, when billing starts, and how to cancel before the trial ends
- Billing cycle: "Monthly subscription renews automatically on the same date each month" or "Annual subscription"
- Cancellation timing: "Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing cycle. No refunds for partial periods."
- Payment method: "Billing is through your device's app store account. We do not store payment data directly."
- Price changes: "We may change subscription pricing with 30 days notice. Existing subscribers keep their current price until renewal."
App Store Rule: Apple requires that cancellation be as easy as purchase. If users subscribe in-app, they must cancel in-app (not via email or support ticket). Google allows cancellation via Google Play but your T&C must make this clear.
User-Generated Content & Moderation
If your app lets users upload photos, messages, or other content, your T&C must address moderation and liability.
Your T&C should state:
- Content ownership: "Users retain ownership of content they upload. By uploading, they grant us a license to store, display, and use for service improvement."
- Content removal: "We reserve the right to remove content that violates these T&C, including illegal content, harassment, explicit material, or spam."
- Moderation process: "Content moderation may be automated or manual. We aim to respond to reports within 48 hours."
- Account suspension: "Repeated violations may result in account suspension or deletion without refund."
- Data retention: "Deleted content is removed from public view within 24 hours but may remain in backups for up to 90 days."
Be clear about what you will and won't tolerate. Vague moderation policies attract the wrong users.
Push Notifications & Marketing Consent
Push notifications are powerful but regulated. Users must explicitly consent, and they must be able to opt out easily.
Your T&C must include:
- Explicit opt-in: "Before sending push notifications, we request permission from the user. Push notifications are opt-in only."
- Notification types: "We may send transactional notifications (order updates, account alerts) and marketing notifications (promotions, new features)."
- Opt-out mechanism: "Users can disable notifications in app settings or device settings at any time."
- Frequency: "We commit to reasonable notification frequency and will not spam users."
App Crashes & Liability Disclaimers
If your app crashes, fails to sync, or loses data, what's your liability? Broad disclaimers may not be enforceable, but you can limit liability within reason.
Your T&C can state:
- Service level: "We strive for high uptime but do not guarantee 100% availability. Updates, maintenance, and unforeseen issues may cause temporary downtime."
- Data loss disclaimer: "While we use industry-standard security, we recommend users maintain their own backups. We are not liable for data loss due to app crashes or device issues."
- Liability cap: "Our total liability for any claim is limited to the fees paid (or $0 if the app is free) in the 12 months prior to the claim."
- Exclude indirect damages: "We are not liable for lost profit, lost business, or reputational harm arising from app use or unavailability."
However, you cannot exclude liability for gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or data breaches.
Device Compatibility & Support Scope
- Supported devices: "This app is tested on iOS 15+ and Android 8+. Performance on older devices is not guaranteed."
- Minimum requirements: State RAM, storage, and internet connection requirements
- Support scope: "We provide support via in-app help and email at support@appname.com. We do not provide technical support for device-related issues."
Tip: Test your T&C on both app stores before launch. Apple and Google have different requirements. Use their pre-submission checklist to avoid rejection.
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