App Store and Google Play: how to manage subscriptions without bank cards

our country will no longer be able to pay for purchases in the Apple and Google app stores with Visa and MasterCard cards. Trends explain how to solve this problem

App Store

Many of our countries have not encountered problems when adding new cards to their Apple ID account. This is fraught with the fact that all of their subscriptions, including the App Store, Apple Music and iCloud plans, will become unavailable. However, there are alternative ways to top up your Apple ID balance.

Buying a gift card

This card can be purchased in two ways:

Direct deposit

The user can replenish the Apple ID balance with a reserve from a previously linked card. If these cards are still working, then money can be deposited directly into the account: open the App Store, click on your profile icon in the upper right, click on “Add money to the account.” Then you need to choose one of the options (₽1000, ₽1500, ₽3000) or enter your amount by clicking on “Other”.

Replenishment through the bank application

In “Tinkoff” and other banking applications there is a “Payments” section, where you need to drive in the “App Store” search field and select the “App Store & iTunes” provider. Then you need to write in the field your phone number, to which the activation code will be sent, and indicate any amount of replenishment.

Top up your Apple ID through the banking app (Photo: iGuides)

Replenishment via mobile account

In the App Store, you can also pay using a mobile account linked to a phone number. To do this, you need to change the payment settings on your mobile device.

To make a payment, you need to enter the AppStore, click on the profile icon, find the “Manage payment methods” section, select “Add a payment method”, click on the “Mobile phone” item, enter your number. After that, you will receive an SMS with a code to complete the payment.

If Apple services are blocked in our country, it will no longer be possible to return the money that is on the Apple ID account. However, you can try to request a refund for some subscriptions and items purchased from the App Store, iTunes Store, Apple Books, and other services. The option is available in a web browser on any device. You need to sign in to reportaproblem.apple.com, click “I need” and then select “Request a refund”. Then you need to select the reason for which you want to return the funds, and click “Next”. After that, you need to select a specific application, subscription or other item, and then click “Submit”.

Refund Request (Photo: Apple)

Google Play

Replenishment via mobile account

To pay with Google Pay using your mobile account, you need to go to your account settings, select “Payments & subscriptions” > “Payment methods” > “Add carrier”. Then you need to enter your mobile number. When purchasing from Google Play, a new payment method can also be added on the purchase confirmation screen via the payment source selection menu.

Buying a gift card

Google Play also accepts gift cards, a recharge code, or a promo code for payment. However, officially our country is not in the list of Google countries where these options are available. Several services sell maps to our countries, offering to use a VPN for activation. But there is a risk that activating cards from other countries through a VPN can lead to blocking.

Qiwi wallet

For purchases in Google Play and the AppStore, you can use an electronic Qiwi wallet, which is replenished, including in cash, through terminals. There are such terminals all over our country. To pay, you need to enter your phone number, the required amount, enter the wallet and make a payment.

Payment via Qiwi wallet (Photo: Qiwi)

Cobaging card

If you most likely won’t be able to link a new card to your account in the App Store, then this option is available on Google Play. In this case, for our country, a Mir co-badged card with support for the Chinese UnionPay payment system can be a good option. Such cards work in 180 countries, and in our country they are issued by several banks, however, this service has recently become paid in most cases. Post Bank offers a free virtual card, and Tinkoff Bank promises to issue its own soon.