How to distribute an iOS App as a kickstarter reward?

App Store Distribution & Marketing General App Store

Created Jan ’16

Replies 19

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I've been looking into this, below are some ways I have read about but there are some problems and questions I can't find the answer to. I hope Apple can support developers that that raising funding for their iOS.

# GIfting

- Problem/Question: Can the developer just pay the 30% or do they have to pay the full amount? And is this service limited to certain countries? I read in a few places off the apple website that international gifting is not allowed by Apple, you can only gift to people in the same country as you.
If the developer must pay the full amount that would be a nightmare with taxes. Recieve 100k in funding, spend 100k on the App gifts, -30% Apple fee (which could be fine), then pay sales tax, and then capital or income tax. That is a lot of money lost. Is it posible just to pay the 30% for your own App?

# Refunding

- Is it possible for backers to purchase the game and then to recieve a refund? Identifying them with their AppleID.

# Enterprise Distibution

- Problem/Question: I think this is just for organisation / legal entitiy. To distrubute to their employees and not for distribution to random individuals all around the world. I'm not sure.

# In-App purchase

- Have the game free with In-Purchase promo code. I read that Zombie Run! ask Apple if they could do this and they allowed them but that was a few years ago and I seems Apple's IAP guidelines don't allow that.

"11.1

Apps that unlock or enable additional features or functionality with mechanisms other than the App Store will be rejected

11.2

Apps utilizing a system other than the In-App Purchase API (IAP) to purchase content, functionality, or services in an App will be rejected"

# Volume Purchase Program for Business

- I don't think this is for distributing to individuals around the world.

Apple website says: "Whether you have ten employees or ten thousand, the Volume Purchase Program (VPP) makes it simple"

"The Volume Purchase Program allows businesses and educational institutions to purchase your apps in volume and distribute them within their organizations."

Does anyone know of a currently Apple approved way?

Boost

PBK OP

May ’16

Great idea - use KickStrater to develop the Android app and once successful port it over to iOS.

GeraldFitz OP

Oct ’17

I was speaking the the creators of Evolution, who are running a kickstarter now and have iOS rewards. I found out the following informaiton.

VPP has been updated with a big change to allow users in different countires to recieve your game.

The latest VPP page (U.S. page), it states: "Content can be assigned to devices or users in any country where the app is available from that country’s App Store."

AND

And I found this great bit of info in the VPP_Business_Guide.pdf that says non-employees can also get the app:

Page 5:

"Redeemable codes"

"You can also distribute content using redeemable codes. This method permanently transfers an app or a book to the Apple ID that redeems the code. This Apple ID can be created and used on devices controlled by your company, or it can be the user’s personal Apple ID."

https://images.apple.com/ie/business/docs/VPP_Business_Guide.pdf

Eugene Ovcharenko Room 8 OP

Dec ’17

Thanks! That's really helpful.

Going to use VPP to deliver the game via emails to Kickstarter backers.

Important to mention that I represent a developer and to deliver the app to the customer we will use 'Customised B2B apps for iOS' method described in the VPP guide, so the customer will later use VPP to generate redeemable codes to send to the bakers. Hope this helps somebody as well.

tubs OP

Sep ’18

Hi! Did using VPP for your kickstarter work out for you?