Select and purchase content in Apple Business Essentials
You can purchase apps and books through the Apps and Books Store, and use Apple Business Essentials to distribute apps to devices or users. You can also purchase Custom Apps and Unlisted Apps, which are tailored to your organization’s specific needs from developers you work with directly.
Regardless of the type of app, you can purchase up to 1,000 apps and assign up to 100 apps per Collection.
Note: You must set up your payment method before you can obtain app licenses, even if they are free.
Search for an app or book
In Apple Business Essentials, sign in with a user that has the role of Administrator or Content Manager.
Select Apps
in the sidebar, then select the Store button.Select the app from the list.
Purchase app licenses
Important: Users with the role of Administrator or Content Manager can purchase apps, but only users with the role of Administrator can assign apps to Collections.
In Apple Business Essentials, sign in with a user that has the role of Administrator or Content Manager.
Select the app or book in the search results list that you want to purchase.
Select the location where the app or book licenses will be initially assigned.
Note: Managed distribution in Apple Business Essentials supports only apps. Book licenses can be purchased or transferred to a location in use by a third-party MDM solution for distribution.
Enter the number of licenses, and if necessary, change the payment method, then select Buy.
Availability of app licenses depends on the amount purchased. If you purchased:
5000 licenses or fewer, they are immediately processed
5001 to 19,999 licenses, they are processed daily after 1:00 p.m., Pacific time
20,000 licenses or more, they are processed daily after 4:00 p.m., Pacific time
Purchase app codes
In certain cases, you may want to purchase redemption codes. These codes can be redeemed by users to get apps, which are then owned by that user’s Apple ID. Redemption codes can be distributed only to users within the same country or region as your organization. For example, users in Canada will be unable to redeem content codes provided by an organization that enrolled in Apple Business Essentials with an address in the United States. Redemption codes aren’t available in South Korea.
Important: Codes, once redeemed, can’t be reassigned to other users.
In Apple Business Essentials, sign in with a user that has the role of Administrator or Content Manager.
Select Apps
in the sidebar, then select the Store button.Select the app from the list.
Select Redemption Codes from the License Type pop-up menu, enter a quantity, then select Buy.
You can also download redemption codes from your purchase history under Apps and Books in Preferences.