We just got a rejection on our VoIP calling app (think Boss Revolution / Rebtel style/Yolla — prepaid credits, app-to-app calls free, calls to real landline/mobile numbers charged per minute).
Apple's rejection (Guideline 3.1.1.1):
"We noticed that the app includes or accesses paid digital content, services, or functionality by means other than In-App Purchase... The credits for VoIP calls can be purchased in the app using payment mechanisms other than In-App Purchase... The app includes intermediary currencies, such as points, coins, or gems, without using In-App Purchase."
Our current setup:
- Users buy "credits" (shown in real USD, e.g. $10 = stored balance)
- Credits are spent calling real phone numbers (landline/mobile) over standard internet data (SIP/WebRTC) — not the device's native cellular dialer
- Payment was happening in an in-app webview (likely the actual issue) rather than opening external Safari
Questions:
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Has anyone successfully shipped a prepaid VoIP/calling-credit app using ONLY external browser links (Safari, not webview) under the post-May-2025 US storefront ruling (3.1.1/3.1.1(a))? Or does Apple still reject "stored balance" models even with proper external links?
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Does anyone know HOW Rebtel, Boss Revolution, Dingtone, or similar apps are technically structured to avoid this? Is it because they trigger the native cellular dialer for the local access number leg of the call (qualifying under a different guideline) rather than using pure data/SIP the whole way through?
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Is "intermediary currency" purely about NAMING (coins/points) or does ANY stored prepaid balance — even shown in real currency — count, regardless of payment method used to acquire it?
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Does 3.1.3(f) ("Free Stand-alone Apps" for VoIP) actually prohibit ANY in-app call-to-action for purchase (even an external link), forcing us to have NO purchase flow in the app at all, with credits only purchasable via a fully separate website experience the user finds on their own?
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Has anyone gotten clarity from Apple directly (App Review Board call, or written response) on where VoIP termination minutes fall — "real-world service" (3.1.3 exception) vs "digital content consumed in-app" (requires IAP)?
Any war stories, links to Apple's actual decisions, or technical breakdowns would be hugely appreciated. We're a small Canadian startup and don't want to burn anot