iPhone and iPad apps will now cost as little as Rs. 10 in India

The iOS apps have been as expensive as $0.99, roughly ₹60 in India so far because all prices in the App Store are set against the US dollar. But now, Apple is giving Indian market a serious look.

Apple-iPad-Air-2-and-Mini-3

Let's face it: buying a lot of iPhone and iPad apps can get very expensive very quickly, and Apple's cheapest asking price for an app - ₹60 - doesn't help.

Let's face it: paying ₹60 for an iPhone or iPad app - the cheapest Apple has allowed developers to price them at - is kind of steep. The reason iOS apps are so expensive is simple: all prices in the App Store are set against the US dollar, and the cheapest that app-makers can price their apps is $0.99 (approximately ₹60).

That's about to change. Apple has now introduced two new low-price tiers for its App Stores in India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Turkey. The cheapest that an app can now be priced at is ₹10, and there's a slightly higher tier that's ₹30. This also applies to in-app purchases.

If you've shyed away from experimenting with iOS apps because of the steep cost of entry before, these prices are great news. Because who cares if an app you download turns out to be a dud if all you've spent on it is less than a plate of roadside chaat?

It's nice to see Apple waking up to market realities in developing countries and adjust pricing accordingly. The company did something similar with its recently launched Apple Music service by pricing it at just ₹120 a month in India (about $2) versus the $9.99 a month it charges its US subscribers.