Terms of Use (app context)

Short definition

Terms of Use (also called Terms of Service or Terms and Conditions) are the binding rules that govern a user's relationship with the app and developer, including acceptable use, payment, warranties, dispute resolution, and termination.

Detailed

Apple requires Terms of Use to be displayed during sign-up and accessible from the app for any app offering auto-renewable subscriptions (per App Store Review Guideline 3.1.2). Google Play requires terms for any app transacting payments outside of Play Billing. Beyond store requirements, terms create the contract that lets the developer enforce rules such as 'no reverse engineering' or 'no automated scraping'.

Example

A journaling app with a subscription shows the Terms of Use URL on its paywall, links to it from the onboarding screen, and links both the Terms and Privacy Policy from its App Store listing. The terms specify a 14-day refund window to match EU consumer rules.

Primary sources

• Apple — App Store Review Guideline 3.1.2 →

Related terms

• Privacy Policy (app context)
  An app privacy policy is a legally binding document that discloses what personal data the app collects, how it is used, with whom it is shared, and what rights users have over their data.
• EULA
  An EULA (End-User License Agreement) is the legal contract between a software developer and a user that governs how the user may install, use, copy, and distribute the software.
• Auto-Renewable Subscription
  An auto-renewable subscription is an In-App Purchase type that charges the user at a fixed interval (weekly, monthly, yearly, etc.) and renews automatically until the user cancels.
• App Store Review Guidelines
  The App Store Review Guidelines are Apple's authoritative, regularly updated rulebook that every submitted iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS app must satisfy to pass App Review.