Seeking Guidance on Publishing Similar Content Apps on the App Store (iOS)

Hello Community Members,


I hope you're all doing well. I'd like to engage in a discussion regarding the practice of publishing multiple iOS applications with similar content on the App Store. I'm seeking advice and insights from the community on how to approach this matter correctly.


To provide some context, I'm an iOS app developer specializing in creating applications for banks. These apps share a common set of functionalities, with the primary differences being the entities they represent (different banks) and the color schemes used within each app.


Each app is customized to suit a specific financial institution, with branding elements aligning with the respective bank's guidelines.

I'm dedicated to adhering to Apple's App Store policies and guidelines, and I want to ensure that I'm following the right procedures when it comes to publishing these similar yet distinct apps. Maintaining a positive relationship with the App Store and ensuring that my apps comply with Apple's platform standards is of utmost importance to me.


Here are my specific questions:

  1. Is it acceptable to publish multiple iOS apps with similar functionality and content, primarily differentiating them by the entities they represent (in this case, different banks)?
  2. Are there any specific recommendations or guidelines I should consider to ensure that these apps are in compliance with Apple's App Store policies?
  3. Are there any potential issues or concerns that I should be aware of when managing multiple apps of this nature on the App Store?


I value the insights and experiences of the community members here, and I believe your input can help me make informed decisions regarding my iOS app portfolio. Please share your thoughts, suggestions, or any relevant experiences you may have had with similar situations.


Thank you all in advance for your contributions to this discussion. Your guidance will be highly appreciated.

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Posted on Sep 1, 2023 7:07 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 1, 2023 7:52 AM

You’ll need to discuss that with Apple App Review for the official answers.


App Review doesn’t (usually) care about the use of common code when the apps are clearly distinguishable by (here) the associated financial institution.


As an existing example app that goes further than what you seem to be planning, MyChart is the same app for multiple medical providers, as the app is tied to a shared (Epic) back-end used by those different services.


Paralleling MyChart app if you’re tied to a common back-end at multiple otherwise unrelated organizations, one app across multiple banks and that picks up the bank-specific app icons and images at first login into an affiliated bank would probably pass app review. (But check with Apple.) Changing the app icon is permissible, too—the Tapbots Ivory app allows users to select an app icon from among the provided set of icons, for instance


From previous discussions, one issue that can arise here can involve proving your affiliation with and your approval by the related organizations. Apple isn’t going to be inclined to approve scammy bank apps. And another issue can be with organizations that want source code and control of the apps and their own Apple ID used to submit the app.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 1, 2023 7:52 AM in response to vedran77

You’ll need to discuss that with Apple App Review for the official answers.


App Review doesn’t (usually) care about the use of common code when the apps are clearly distinguishable by (here) the associated financial institution.


As an existing example app that goes further than what you seem to be planning, MyChart is the same app for multiple medical providers, as the app is tied to a shared (Epic) back-end used by those different services.


Paralleling MyChart app if you’re tied to a common back-end at multiple otherwise unrelated organizations, one app across multiple banks and that picks up the bank-specific app icons and images at first login into an affiliated bank would probably pass app review. (But check with Apple.) Changing the app icon is permissible, too—the Tapbots Ivory app allows users to select an app icon from among the provided set of icons, for instance


From previous discussions, one issue that can arise here can involve proving your affiliation with and your approval by the related organizations. Apple isn’t going to be inclined to approve scammy bank apps. And another issue can be with organizations that want source code and control of the apps and their own Apple ID used to submit the app.

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Seeking Guidance on Publishing Similar Content Apps on the App Store (iOS)

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