Apple’s recent crackdown on MyFitnessPal ownership Cal AI The food logging app shows that the tech company is still enforcing its strict App Store rules about the use of external payments. A calorie-counting app, which was briefly removed from App store Apple told TechCrunch that last week, Apple attempted to override its in-app purchase guidelines and used manipulative tactics.

The developer has since fixed the issues, and the app has back On Apple’s App Store.

Cal AI’s App Store Rejection made gave Dizzy Last week on social media Apple seemed to be making an example of the company, originally founded by a couple of high school students who grew the business to $$.50 million in ARR Before being acquired by MyFitnessPal in March.

Initially, there was concern that Apple simply removed the app to use web payments instead of Apple’s own in-app purchases (or IAP), although this is now allowed.

Currently, Apple’s App Store guidelines allow US-based developers to connect to external payment systems, as a result of a court ruling in a lawsuit brought against Apple by Epic Games. However, in most cases, apps still need to offer Apple’s in-app purchase option with any external links. (The biggest exception here is for what Apple calls “reader” apps—that is, those that provide subscription-based access to digital content, such as books, audio, music, video streaming, etc. Cal AI does not qualify for this exception.)

Apple, when reached for comment, said the app’s summary removal was due to multiple violations of its rules, including bypassing Apple’s in-app purchase flow, using deceptive billing designs, and other manipulative tactics. The episode shows that Apple is still actively policing how developers implement web payments, even though Epic’s order loosened some earlier restrictions.

To top the breach, Apple said Cal AI bypassed Apple’s in-app purchases by implementing an embedded in-app payment flow using a third-party service (in this case, Stripe) to unlock access to digital goods. In doing so, it removed Apple’s in-app purchases (IAP) as an option for customers during checkout. This was violated. Apple’s App Review Guidelines 3.1.1, which requires that the IAP be served with an external link.

Apple said the company also violated fraudulent billing practices. Guideline 3.1.2cAs Cal AI’s paywall was designed to mislead and confuse users. Specifically, the paywall displayed weekly calculated prices significantly higher than the actual amount billed to the user. It also included a toggle for a free trial that obscured information about automatic subscription renewal.

Apple said that KALAI was further stymied by its use of “manipulative tactics”, in violation of Developer Code of Conduct Guideline 5.6. One problem was that the app would prompt users who declined the first subscription offer with a second, different subscription purchase flow. Also, the app had a number of negative user reviews that accused the app of being a scam because of how it presented its third-party payment options.

After this rejection, Cal AI addressed the issues, allows him return On the store, Apple confirmed.

MyFitnessPal and Cal AI did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Cal AI wanted to test the waters to see how proactively Apple’s app review team is enforcing its rules after the Apple-Epic court ruling. Apple’s response should serve as a warning that the tech giant is still monitoring its App Store — even at the risk of a drop in revenue for a viral app that sits at No. 4 on the App Store’s health and fitness chart today.