How they work
An App Clip is a lightweight part of your app, built in the same Xcode project. It launches in seconds from an App Clip Code, a QR code, an NFC tag, a link in Safari or Messages, or a place card in Maps. Users can sign in with Apple and pay with Apple Pay, then install the full app if they like it.
Good use cases
- Paying for parking or a scooter rental.
- Ordering at a café table.
- Trying a key feature before committing to the full app.
Why marketers care
App Clips remove the install step for a first experience, then offer the full app at the right moment — a path to organic installs. They work together with deep linking (the same URLs can open the full app if installed).
Android has a similar concept in Google Play Instant, though it is less widely used today.
Example
A parking app puts App Clip codes on parking meters. Drivers pay in 20 seconds without installing; many install the full app later to save their car and payment details.