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Apple says ‘no’ to developers pushing the word ‘free’ in app names, screenshots

Apple’s iTunes Connect service is now blocking submissions to Apple’s app stores when app metadata includes pricing information in an effort to stop developers from touting the price of their applications in app names and screenshots, according to VentureBeat.

Instead, Apple wants developers to highlight prices and discounts in the app’s description. Try to submit an app for review that contains the word “Free” in the name of the app and you’ll get this error message:

“Your app’s name, icons, screenshots, or previews to be displayed on the App Store include references to your app’s price, which is not considered a part of these metadata items.

“Please remove any references to your app’s price from your app’s name, including any references to your app being free or discounted. If you would like to advertise changes to your app’s price, it would be appropriate to include this information in the app description. Changes to your app’s price can be made in the Pricing and Availability section of iTunes Connect.”

iTunes Connect is a suite of web-based tools for managing content sold on the iTunes Store, iBooks Store, and the App Store for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Members of the Apple Developer Program use this tool to manage apps, agreements, tax and banking information, sales reports, and more.

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.