Goodbye $99 Price: Developer Betas Now Free For iOS, watchOS, And Extra

• The payment exemption: not part of the iOS 17
• A $99 annual payment for Apple’s beta program nonetheless exists

In the course of the WWDC 2023, occasion that introduced us a first look at the Vision Pro AR glasses, Apple additionally unveiled iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, macOS Sonoma, and different updates.

In a shocking transfer, the corporate silently made a major change to its beta program, permitting builders to obtain and set up the most recent beta software program updates with out paying the earlier $99 annual payment.

The payment exemption: not part of the iOS 17

To present you a context, beforehand, public betas have been free, whereas builders needed to shell out the payment; this alteration, which can have been carried out with the launch of iOS 17, now applies to different updates as properly.

Customers have already been capable of entry beta builds — together with iOS 16.4 and iOS 16.5 — earlier than the iOS 17 announcement, which signifies that the payment exemption is a part of iOS 16. We beforehand offered a information on the way to obtain the official iOS beta and not using a configuration profile, while not having to pay the $99 payment for Apple’s beta program.

Now, builders can freely set up developer beta builds for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, and tvOS. Nevertheless, it’s advisable to attend for the general public beta variations, as preliminary builds typically comprise bugs and points.

A $99 annual payment for Apple’s beta program nonetheless exists

Whereas the $99 annual payment for Apple’s beta program nonetheless exists, it provides further advantages equivalent to code constructing with Apple assist and app distribution on the App Retailer. As talked about by WCCFtech, By eradicating the payment for beta builds, Apple goals to encourage extra builders to take part in this system and contribute to figuring out and resolving bugs.

Apple lately launched the primary developer beta of iOS 17, which introduces a number of thrilling options, together with StandBy Mode, remodeling iPhones into sensible shows. Accessibility options have additionally been enhanced with the addition of the brand new Private Voice characteristic.

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