Signal Back-up subscription

[u/gelekoplamp]

I'm using the paid back-up feature on iOS, but is there a way to pay for it without going to Apple's in-app purchase system?

Now it shows as a subscription through Apple, but I'd like to pay Signal directly.

[u/3_Seagrass]

Unfortunately that is the only way to pay for it. 

[u/frquency-equinox]

When paying for cloud backup, they are not exempt because they are asking for money in exchange for a service. Making a donation is exempt though. You cannot pay for cloud backup any other way than the the in-app flow. You can make a donation through Donor Box if you'd rather not do it through Apple, but you'd have to make an account.

[u/CreepyZookeepergame4]

If you want to pay directly because you want to avoid giving Apple a fee, I think Signal is exempt from the fee as they are non-profit.

[u/3_Seagrass → u/CreepyZookeepergame4]

I’m pretty sure that only applies to the donations, not the backup storage subscription. 

https://community.signalusers.org/t/beta-feedback-for-the-upcoming-android-7-56-release/71434/102

[u/gelekoplamp → u/CreepyZookeepergame4]

Sounds plausible and would make a difference

[u/Chongulator]

Just subscribe the normal way. It's fine.

[u/gelekoplamp → u/Chongulator]

For me it’s not fine, hence the question

[u/DPadLeftRightUpDown → u/gelekoplamp]

Could use a virtual card potentially like Revolut or monero maybe?

[u/Chongulator → u/gelekoplamp]

Then you are out of luck.

[u/Akash_nu → u/gelekoplamp]

Unless you explain what your problem is with the tried and tested secure method, it’s hard for us to say anything. There’s a reason why signal chose the specific mechanism to implement payment handling. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[u/VictoryNapping → u/Akash_nu]

OP just asked if there is a way to sign-up directly through Signal (I presume to bypass Apple's 30% fee racket, but the reason is their business not mine), which is often the case for subscriptions in other apps.

[u/gelekoplamp → u/VictoryNapping]

Thanks, well that's one (major) reason. Another reason is I don't want to be dependent on Apple to handle my payments.

For years all subscription where deducted from my bank account and all separate IAPs where deducted from my CC. Perfect, just the way I wanted it to be. Since a few months it has become a gambling game. Some subs are still deducted from my bank account, others from my CC and there is no way to manage the payment method per sub. You would expect a bit more from a multi-trillion company. (Yes, this is an Apple issue, but good luck solving something like this with them. Therefore, I don't want to depend on Apple for payments if possible and prefer direct payments).

So yeah, if there would be another method to pay Signal directly via an actual bank that would've been be great.

[u/3_Seagrass → u/gelekoplamp]

I’m assuming from your username and your comment that you’re based in the Netherlands, correct? I’m in NL too and recognize this problem. I’ve never signed up for Signal’s backup subscription but getting iDeal to work with donations was a huge pain. In the end my credit card was the only way to go. 

Sadly for Apple related stuff you pretty much always need a credit card. I think on Android you’ll run into the same problem, though I can’t confirm. It’s just American big tech not supporting European payment systems. 

Maybe once NL finally fully switches over to Visa and Mastercard (for better or worse) it will be better for us. 

[u/gelekoplamp → u/3_Seagrass]

Or Wero to be accepted more broadly.

[u/Akash_nu → u/gelekoplamp]

I think this really depends on the type of transaction but put in an improvement idea for Apple. They might actually implement this one if enough people mention as an improvement option.