Are app subscriptions on iPhones more expensive than on Android devices?

There is a common notion that apps and services on Apple iPhones cost more on Android devices. To put this to the test, we checked the prices of some of the most popular subscriptions on Android and iOS.

Google subscriptions like YouTube Premium and Google One are more affordable on Android smartphones. Since both Android and these services are developed by Google, there’s no platform fee required, making subscriptions up to 20 per cent cheaper on Android devices. This is the reason why you cannot subscribe to services like Netflix directly from an iPhone or an Android smartphone.

YouTube Premium is a lot cheaper on Android. (Express Photo)

For instance, a monthly YouTube Premium subscription costs Rs 195 on iPhones but only Rs 149 on Android smartphones. A similar trend applies to Meta Verified: while a monthly subscription on both Android and iOS is set at Rs 639, Android users can access the first month at a discounted Rs 579.

Meta Verified subscription is also slightly cheaper on Android. (Express Photo) X Premium+ subscription is also a bit cheaper on Android. (Express Photo)

Other apps show similar pricing variations. The Premium+ subscription of X is Rs 2,299 per month on iPhones but Rs 2,150 on Android.

Truecaller premium costs the same on Android and iOS. (Express Photo)

However, some services maintain consistent pricing across platforms. Truecaller’s monthly and annual subscriptions are Rs 99 and Rs 899, respectively, on both Android and iOS. Similarly, Apple services like Apple Music and Apple TV+ are priced identically on both platforms.

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LinkedIn Premium subscription is cheaper on iPhone. (Express Photo)

LinkedIn Premium bucks this trend by being slightly more affordable on iPhones (Rs 919) compared to Android (Rs 925).

To summarise, while Google services tend to be more affordable on Android, pricing differences vary by app. Android can be a more budget-friendly option for users invested in Google services, but overall, app prices depend on individual service policies, not just the device. In fact, most of these apps, when subscribed from a desktop/web will be a lot cheaper.