Hello,
I am in the process of developing a peer-to-peer parking app and would like clarification on whether my payment system requires In-App Purchases (IAP) or if I can use custom payment system embedded in-app such as Stripe for transactions.
About the App:
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Users can add empty parking spots they find on a map. Other users can pay to unlock a group of spot coordinates (availability is not guaranteed).
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Users can also host their own occupied parking spot and sell it to another user, guaranteeing availability.
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The app uses a virtual currency (“coins”), which represent real money and are used to pay for unlocking spots and purchasing hosted spots.
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Users can fund their account with coins, and coins they earn from selling spots can be cashed out via PayPal once a minimum threshold is met.
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Users cannot cash out coins they purchased—only the ones they earned.
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The funds/coins are controlled by the app’s servers acting as a middleman. If a purchase transaction occurs, the app deducts the coins from the purchaser‘s account and credits the sellers account minus service fee of the app.
My Question:
Since the app facilitates real-world transactions between users, can I use Stripe to allow users to purchase coins, or does Apple require In-App Purchases (IAP) for funding accounts?
If not do you have any suggestions on different methods?
I want to ensure compliance with App Store policies before proceeding. Thank you!
Best regards,
Mubin