Distributing Apps on Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager

All apps on the App Store are automatically available for volume purchase for the same price in Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager, which is where businesses and educational institutions download apps for volume distribution. Alternatively, you can offer your apps to educational institutions for a reduced price or identify specific organizations you’d like to let download your app. This includes the ability to distribute proprietary apps for internal use within your organization. Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager are available in many regions.

Offering a reduced price for educational institutions

You can choose to provide your app for 50% of its listed price for educational institutions purchasing quantities of 20 or more. Please note that this option is only available before your app has been approved. Once you’ve created an App Store Connect app record and uploaded your app using Xcode, complete the following steps.

  1. From the App Store Connect home page, click My Apps, and select your app from the list.
  2. Under Pricing and Availability, go to the App Distribution Methods section.
  3. Select Public.
  4. Select “Offer a reduced price on Apple School Manager for volume purchases.”

Once your app is approved, it will be available in the Apps and Books section of Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.

Making a custom app available only to specific organizations

A custom app is an app you’ve created for a specific organization, including a proprietary app for your organization’s internal use. You maintain the code and retain your intellectual property rights. You can offer a tailored look and feel, specific functionality for a process or workflow, special configuration for IT environments, security features for company data, and custom features for partners, clients, dealers, franchises, or employees.

You can specify one or more organizations that can see and download the app on Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager. They can then distribute it through Mobile Device Management or redemption codes. Please note that this option is only available before your app has been approved.

Enter the Organization ID to make the app visible in the organization’s account on Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager. For organizations still using the legacy Volume Purchase Program, you can assign an app to their volume purchasing Apple Account.

  1. From the App Store Connect home page, click My Apps, and select your app from the list.
  2. Under Pricing and Availability, go to the App Distribution Methods section.
  3. Select Private.
  4. Under Type, choose either Organization ID or Apple Account, and enter the required information.

If your app contains sensitive data, provide sample data and authentication for the App Store Review team. Once your app is approved, the organization will be able to see it in the Custom Apps section of Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.

You’ll also be able to invite testers to beta test your app before distribution.

Finding the Organization ID

Organizations can find their Organization ID by following these steps.

  1. Sign in to Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager with an administrator account.
  2. In the sidebar, click Settings.
  3. Click Enrollment Information. The Organization ID appears in the first section under Organization Information.

Learn more

Get support and additional details on distributing custom apps.