Apple closes iTunes Allowances, pushes Family Sharing

With iTunes Allowances, parents were allowed to set up monthly credit for their kids to spend on the iTunes Store and App Store. In announcing the closer, Apple recommends that parents instead use Family Sharing to manage purchase and spending habits across family members.

Family Sharing features the ability to “Ask to Buy,” which requires parental permission when a child tries to purchase an app or game. With iTunes Allowances, no permission was required. Instead, children were given a fixed amount of money each month to make purchases. Once reaching that limit, they needed to wait until the next month to receive their next allowance.

An alternative to Family Sharing remains giving iTunes Gifts. In most areas, iTunes accounts don’t require an associated debit or credit card. With iTunes Gift Cards, a certain amount of money is sent to someone to spend as they please. Users can also gift individual apps or books.

Those who already use iTunes Allowances can continue to do so until May 25.