Last month, we reported that iOS 26.5 beta 1 indicated new App Store subscription options. Today, Apple officially announced this, and developers can now create and test monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment before they are publicly available. Here are the details.

To Be Released Worldwide, With Two Important Exceptions

Apple confirmed today that developers will soon be able to offer monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment on the App Store.

This will allow annual-style plans to be broken down into smaller monthly payments while also requiring users to commit for the full duration.

From a user experience perspective, Apple stated that this new subscription option will allow users to “cancel their subscriptions at any time, thus preventing renewal after fulfilling their commitment.”

Apple also mentioned, “to provide transparency, users will be able to easily see the number of completed and remaining payments for the subscription in their Apple Accounts,” and added that the company will send emails and notifications to remind users about upcoming renewals.

For developers, Apple noted that the new subscription type is currently available in App Store Connect and can be tested in Xcode. However, it is not yet live on the App Store.

Apple stated that with the release of iOS 26.5 and equivalents next month, this option will be made available to users worldwide using iOS 26.4 (or newer) and equivalents, but it will not apply to the US and Singapore.

Apple's press release does not specify why monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment will not be available in the US and Singapore first, or when the feature is expected to be rolled out in those regions.

9to5Mac reached out to Apple, and we will update this article if we receive a response.

To learn more about monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment, follow this link.