The Facts About the Apple App Store

There have been a lot of people commenting about Apple’s recent App Store policy changes. Subsplash has a long-standing developer relationship with Apple going back to 2008, and we have spoken with them in great detail on this topic. We’d like to share the info with you. Here are the facts:

What changes did Apple make to the App Store policy?

Apple changed the policy for the App Store with the advent of iOS 11 back at the World Wide Developer Conference in June. One of the the most notable changes causing a stir was found in rule 4.2.6. The new guideline states this: “Apps created from a commercialized template or app generation service will be rejected.” Apple has made it clear in the follow ups from this announcement that they will no longer be allowing these types of apps in the app store through these services.

Will my existing app built by Subsplash remain and continue to be updated in the App Store?

Yes. As a Subsplash client, if you already have your own branded app in the app stores, it will continue being updated. Apple has confirmed that Subsplash will be able to continue updating our current apps on iOS and we have not been given any kind of deadline for these apps. This means Subsplash will continue pushing updates for new features and bug fixes. No company can guarantee an app will exist forever as Apple can always change their policy, but we can assure you that your app is in good standing and is not included in the current deadlines given to some other companies in our industry. At Subsplash, we build everything from the ground up: design, development, support, consulting, and working directly with Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon to comply with their app store guidelines.

I’ve heard that all church apps are going to be removed from the Apple App Store. Is that true?

No. Apple has announced new policies that affect companies offering apps. Some of these companies are claiming that all church apps will no longer be supported in the App Store and will be removed. While this may be true for other companies, this is not true for Subsplash apps and for Subsplash clients. Some companies that offer apps may be affected more broadly by these changes because they have rented, white-labeled, or re-sold templates to build apps. Again, apps built by Subsplash are Apple App Store approved and will continue to be supported into the future. If Apple were to ever change their policy in a way that will affect your service with Subsplash, we will always communicate with you directly and keep you posted on how it would affect you. 

What new tools will be coming available for Subsplash clients?

With Subsplash, ministries continue to have their app in the major app stores and have it regularly updated going forward without an end date, and they will also benefit from being a founding member of The Church App. Check out The Church App® in the iOS App Store or Google Play. Thousands of leading churches and ministries are in The Church App such as The Village Church, Eaglebrook Church, Fresh Life Church, North Point Community Church, Harvest: Greg Laurie, and many more. This app allows each church to have their own mobile presence within The Church App for their community to call home with all the rich benefits of the Subsplash platform. This app will greatly increase discoverability for Christian churches by allowing end users to have an incredible search tool at their fingertips. Using geo-locations, maps, and name search, people can find churches nearby and jump right in to check it out. That means more opportunities for Gospel-centered content to be shared and great discoverability for the greater community. Subsplash is committed to equipping Jesus-focused churches and ministries around the world with mobile technology. We work hard to make it powerful and simple for you! Get ready for the next level in church mobile engagement!

What about churches that don’t have an app yet?

For new Subsplash clients who signup today and into the future, they will have two options: 1.) Be part of The Church App and/or 2.) Create an enterprise-level, custom, stand-alone app. Subsplash is here to offer both. By God’s grace, we’ve been building custom and platform software for thousands of leading ministries and have created software experiences for several Fortune 500 companies for years––even before the original iPhone was even announced. We’ve worked with Apple from day-one, have developed some of the most downloaded apps of all time, and are looking forward to what God has in store for the future!

What to look for

We’ll be keeping you posted as we roll out updates. We welcome your feedback and input. We are thankful for the churches and ministries around the world we get to serve and can’t wait to see what God will do next!

In Christ,

Tim Turner, CEO

updated 11/10/17