Apple has revised its App Store rules in the United States, allowing developers to redirect users to their own websites for making payments for subscriptions or other digital services. This significant shift comes in response to a recent U.S. court ruling that sided with Epic Games in its long-standing legal battle against the tech giant.
The updated App Store guidelines follow the court’s decision requiring Apple to cease prohibiting developers from implementing external links and buttons within their apps to facilitate payments outside Apple’s own billing system. Previously, Apple faced strong criticism from app makers due to its practice of taking a substantial commission—a standard 30%, which was reduced to 27% last year—in exchange for handling transactions within its ecosystem.
This legal saga dates back to 2020 when Epic Games challenged Apple’s in-app payment rules. In 2021, Epic gained an injunction ordering Apple to grant developers flexibility in redirecting customers to external platforms to manage transactions independently from Apple’s payment processing, reducing dependence on App Store infrastructure and avoiding high commissions.
Apple initially contested and appealed the ruling but failed to persuade judges to reverse or significantly alter the injunction. In response, the company had already started allowing links to third-party payment sites while imposing restrictions and displaying what critics dubbed “scare screens,” messages intended to discourage users from leaving Apple’s payment system. The recent court instruction specifically forbids Apple from displaying such intimidating prompts, prompting the company to remove these elements from its guidelines and processes.
Apple expressed its displeasure with the latest ruling, releasing a statement indicating its intent to appeal once again while confirming it would adhere to the court’s decision in the interim.
Spotify, involved in separate legal disputes with Apple over similar restrictions, quickly seized this policy change to submit a revised version of its app to the U.S. App Store featuring links for external subscription purchases.
It remains unclear whether Apple will continue attempting to enforce any form of commission on external payment platforms. The company has yet to publicly clarify whether it intends to collect charges from app developers when purchases are made through external links.
