App Store Question: Paid vs. Free Apps

By Misty Dawn, 26 December, 2014

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

In the latest version of the App Store, I notice that some apps, instead of having "Free" or some price listed, simply say "Get". What does this mean? How can I now tell whether apps are paid or free before I purchase them? Is the presence of the word "Get" an automatic indicator that the app is, indeed, free, or is there even a way to tell the difference now? I do notice that some apps still hae prices listed. If an app is paid, will the price always be listed?

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Comments

By Clare Page on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 - 19:23

Hi! In answer to your question, the word "Get" on a button in the App Store means the app in question is free: maybe "Get" is short for "get this app", I don't know, but for some reason Apple suddenly decided to put the word "Get" instead of "Free" for apps you don't have to pay for. Paid apps still have a button with their price on them, as was the case in the past, and I don't suppose that will change.

By Toonhead on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 - 19:23

Very basicly, the word get, means that the app is free. If it's not free, the price for the app will be on that same button. for example if an app is $1.99 the button will say $1.99 button, and if the app is a free one it'll just say get. Hope that helps.

By Michael Hansen on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 - 19:23

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Hello Misty,

To the best of my knowledge, paid apps will still display a price.

According to this Engadget article, the change in label from "Free" to "Get" was likely in response to calls from regulators in regards to protecting children and parents from unknowingly downloading a "Free" app that really needs an in-app purchase to work correctly.