Guideline 3.1.3 rejection: Other purchase methods
What it means, why it happens, and how developers get through it.
Subject line you may see: Guideline 3.1.3
What Apple's guideline says
Apps in this section cannot, within the app, encourage users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase, except for apps on the United States storefront and as set forth in 3.1.1(a) and 3.1.3(a).
From App Review Guidelines, 3.1.3, as revised October 16, 2026.
Common causes
- Buttons or text inside the app that steer users to buy on a website, outside the exceptions Apple lists
- Digital content unlocked from the web that is not also offered as in-app purchase (3.1.3(b))
- One-to-few or one-to-many live classes sold outside in-app purchase (3.1.3(d) allows other methods only between two individuals)
- Physical goods or services sold through in-app purchase instead of another method (3.1.3(e))
- A free companion app with purchase calls to action (3.1.3(f))
How to fix it
- Find which 3.1.3 letter the message cites and read that paragraph
- Remove in-app wording or links that steer users to other purchase methods, unless an exception applies
- If you sell digital items on other platforms, also offer them as in-app purchase
- Use in-app purchase for one-to-few and one-to-many live services
- Reply naming the exception your app fits and what you changed
What to put in your reply
A sample reply note. Replace the brackets with your facts and remove anything that does not apply.
Hello, Thank you for the review. Regarding Guideline 3.1.3([letter]), in build [number] we [removed the link to our website purchase page / added these items as in-app purchases]. Our app fits 3.1.3([letter]) because [reason]. Thank you.
Real cases: others who got 3.1.3
No public cases logged yet.
Questions developers ask about 3.1.3
What does a Guideline 3.1.3 rejection mean?
3.1.3 lists the apps that may take payment outside in-app purchase: reader apps, multiplatform services, enterprise, person-to-person services, physical goods, free companions, and ad managers. A rejection usually means your app does not fit the exception it relies on, or it steers users to buy elsewhere.
Why do apps get rejected under Guideline 3.1.3?
Common causes, based on Apple's guideline text: buttons or text inside the app that steer users to buy on a website, outside the exceptions Apple lists; digital content unlocked from the web that is not also offered as in-app purchase (3.1.3(b)); one-to-few or one-to-many live classes sold outside in-app purchase (3.1.3(d) allows other methods only between two individuals); physical goods or services sold through in-app purchase instead of another method (3.1.3(e)); A free companion app with purchase calls to action (3.1.3(f)).
How do I fix a Guideline 3.1.3 rejection?
1. Find which 3.1.3 letter the message cites and read that paragraph. 2. Remove in-app wording or links that steer users to other purchase methods, unless an exception applies. 3. If you sell digital items on other platforms, also offer them as in-app purchase. 4. Use in-app purchase for one-to-few and one-to-many live services. 5. Reply naming the exception your app fits and what you changed.
Do I need a new build for Guideline 3.1.3?
Read carefully, then decide. This one depends on details. Reply asking what exactly was flagged before changing things. This is how the guideline is usually resolved, not a prediction for your app.
How should I reply to App Review about Guideline 3.1.3?
Reply in App Store Connect. Thank the reviewer and name Guideline 3.1.3, say exactly what changed and in which version and build, give a numbered path the reviewer can follow, and attach proof such as screenshots or a screen recording.
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See also: 3.1.1 in-app purchase · 3.1.2 subscriptions
Source: Apple's App Review Guidelines, section 3.1.3, as revised October 16, 2026. Last checked . Always read the current official text. How we write these guides.