CODEWITHSUNDEEP
iosapp-store
Muff
Muff

Reputation: 99

Private set of users for iOS App

I would like to create an iOS App for a limited set of people.

It should be possible to download the app for free from App Store, but in order to use it the idea is that you are required to be a member of the organization, which in this case is a local sports organization.

To solve the problem I thought of giving away activation keys to members that can be entered when they create an account, and therefore only members will be using the app.

Will the app be rejected by App Store? If so, is it possible to go around this in some away?

Thanks.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 151

Answers (4)

David Faure
David Faure

Reputation: 1376

No you will not be rejected by the App Store.

During the review you will only need to give the access to demo account.

Your app will be available to anyone but you are free to give the credential to any person you want.

edit Fyi I have such apps. The AppStore only block 'discriminating' app based on carrier or location (you can choose the countries anyway), but you are perfectly in the rules if you give access only to your clients...

edit edit

2.22 like I said is against arbitrary criterias, not linked to the login mechanism

for 11.1 and so on, I understand the point, but in my case (and I think yours) there is no problem if

  • you sell your service before, the app is just complimentary

  • you dont sell anything within the app

  • you dont charge for the app itself or anything within the app, you charge only the use of the server/back office/whatsoever

I guess that Apple dont care, they just don't want to bypass the applestore but I dont think that it is your case.

Upvotes: 2

Alex Andrews
Alex Andrews

Reputation: 1498

No, there will not. You need to to give some demo account info as test data to review while submitting to app store in the iTunes Connect portal.

Demo use case(worked for me): Implementation is like, there need some userid/unique pin to the registered account holders to start the application. At the time they input this pin, authenticate the user with our server and give the permission to let in to the app.

Otherwise you need to go for enterprise distribution. Find more about enterprise distribution here.

Upvotes: 0

limfinity
limfinity

Reputation: 746

Yes your app may be rejected. Check the App Store Review Guidelines. In 2.2 it says

Apps that arbitrarily restrict which users may use the App, such as by location or carrier, may be rejected

There are different alternatives.

  • You can opt in for the Apple Developer Enterprise Program, this'll cost you 300$ a year and requires you to be a legal entity.
  • If you want to test it with a limited number of people (<1000) try looking into Testflight it was bought by Apple and is deeply integrated in the development process.

Upvotes: 0

Vinayk
Vinayk

Reputation: 194

You should try Enterprise distribution for such purpose.

Upvotes: 1

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