HomeApple removes Cal AI app for unauthorized in-app purchases and manipulative billing
Apple’s recent removal of Cal AI, a popular AI-powered food tracking app within MyFitnessPal, underscores its strict enforcement of App Store policies on external payments and subscriptions. The app, which generates $50 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), was temporarily taken down for violating multiple developer guidelines but has since been restored after addressing the issues.
Reports indicate that although the Epic Games vs. Apple ruling permits U.S. developers to link to external payment systems, Apple stated that Cal AI had significant compliance issues. The core violation was the app’s attempt to bypass Apple’s in-app purchase (IAP) mechanism by embedding a third-party payment process via Stripe to unlock digital content, without offering the required IAP option. Additionally, Apple accused it of having “deceptive billing design,” such as using larger font sizes to highlight weekly conversion prices, confusing actual billing amounts, and misleading consumers with hidden auto-renewal information on free trial switches.
In terms of developer behavior guidelines, Cal AI also faced criticism for using “manipulative methods,” including pushing secondary purchase processes to users who declined subscriptions, and receiving numerous user complaints due to payment options that could constitute fraud. Although Cal AI, as a health app, does not fall under the “reader” category exempt from IAP, its previous actions that appeared to test regulatory boundaries received a firm response from Apple.
This incident serves as a warning to developers worldwide: even if legal rulings have eased payment restrictions, Apple still maintains tight control over its ecosystem. By taking action against an app ranked fourth in the health and fitness charts, Apple sends a clear market signal—any attempts to exploit policy loopholes for manipulative billing or undermining the integrity of IAP will face strict scrutiny.
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Apple’s recent removal of Cal AI, a popular AI-powered food tracking app within MyFitnessPal, underscores its strict enforcement of App Store policies on external payments and subscriptions. The app, which generates $50 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), was temporarily taken down for violating multiple developer guidelines but has since been restored after addressing the issues.
Reports indicate that although the Epic Games vs. Apple ruling permits U.S. developers to link to external payment systems, Apple stated that Cal AI had significant compliance issues. The core violation was the app’s attempt to bypass Apple’s in-app purchase (IAP) mechanism by embedding a third-party payment process via Stripe to unlock digital content, without offering the required IAP option. Additionally, Apple accused it of having “deceptive billing design,” such as using larger font sizes to highlight weekly conversion prices, confusing actual billing amounts, and misleading consumers with hidden auto-renewal information on free trial switches.
In terms of developer behavior guidelines, Cal AI also faced criticism for using “manipulative methods,” including pushing secondary purchase processes to users who declined subscriptions, and receiving numerous user complaints due to payment options that could constitute fraud. Although Cal AI, as a health app, does not fall under the “reader” category exempt from IAP, its previous actions that appeared to test regulatory boundaries received a firm response from Apple.
This incident serves as a warning to developers worldwide: even if legal rulings have eased payment restrictions, Apple still maintains tight control over its ecosystem. By taking action against an app ranked fourth in the health and fitness charts, Apple sends a clear market signal—any attempts to exploit policy loopholes for manipulative billing or undermining the integrity of IAP will face strict scrutiny.
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