Apple sets out proposed external-link commissions for iOS apps
Apple has proposed a 15% commission on purchases made through external links in standard iOS apps. The proposal, filed on Thursday in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, also outlines lower rates for eligible developers and subscriptions as Apple’s long-running legal dispute with Epic Games continues.
Under the proposed structure, developers in Apple’s Small Business Program would pay a 5% commission on payments made through external links. Developers enrolled in the Video Partner Program, News Partner Program or Mini Apps Partner Program would face a 10% rate. Subscription renewals would also carry a 10% commission.
Filing follows Supreme Court decision
The filing came after the US Supreme Court rejected Apple’s attempt to pause further lower-court action. Apple had sought to delay its response while the Court considered a related question: whether the company was in contempt of an order after imposing a 27% commission on purchases through external links and restricting how developers could present those links.
That dispute followed the wider Epic Games litigation over Apple’s App Store commission policies. In the case concerning Apple seeks narrower Epic ruling scope, the scope of the Epic ruling remained central to the argument over which developers could benefit from changes to App Store payment rules.
Rates proposed for external purchase flows
Apple argues that it should be allowed to charge for purchases made by users of its devices because the fees help recoup investment in the tools, technology and services used to operate the App Store and its software ecosystem.
The company also compared its proposed link-out rates with Google Play. Apple said Google Play charges 20% for standard apps using link-out payments, 15% for apps in special programmes and 10% for subscription renewals. Apple noted that Epic Games had agreed to those Google Play rates.
What developers should assess
The filing is a proposal rather than a final commercial framework, but it gives developers concrete rates to assess when designing iOS purchase journeys. Businesses using external links should evaluate whether they qualify for a lower-rate programme, separate initial payments from renewal revenue, and account for the proposed commission in their payment and pricing models.