Apple seeks to charge fees for out-of-App Store purchase links
Apple, in accordance with a court order, has submitted a proposal for the commission rates it wishes to charge applications in the United States that provide links to purchase options outside the App Store.
According to a MacRumors report on Thursday (13/8), Apple is proposing a rate of half the standard commission for standard apps that link to purchase options outside the App Store.
This means that apps that normally pay a 30 percent commission for in-app purchases would need to pay a 15 percent commission if they provide a link to a web-based purchase option.
The provision of out-of-App Store purchase links for apps that qualify as participants in the Small Business Programme, namely apps with revenue below 1 million US dollars (approximately Rp17.8 billion) per year, is proposed to be charged a fee of five percent.
The company is proposing a 10 percent commission for apps enrolled in the News Partner Programme, Video Partner Programme, Mini App Partner Programme, and service extensions that do the same.
The proposed fee applies when a user opens an app, clicks a link within it, and then makes a purchase on the website to which the link directs.
Apple stated that the proposed fee amount was calculated based on expert analysis and is lower than the external link rates charged by Google in its legal case with developer Epic Games.
Apple submitted its proposed fee for providing out-of-App Store purchase links to the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
In that court, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is tasked with determining a reasonable fee for Apple’s use of its intellectual property.
An appeal delayed the App Store update for several years, but Apple eventually charged fees of 12 to 27 percent, nearly the same as regular App Store fees when accounting for fees from third-party payment service providers.
Epic Games complained about Apple’s new fee structure, and Judge Gonzalez subsequently ruled that Apple was in contempt of court for failing to comply with the legal ruling.
In April 2025, Judge Gonzalez prohibited Apple from charging any fees for providing out-of-app purchase links.
Apple has since not charged any fees when apps direct users to websites to make purchases.
The company then filed an appeal. The appellate court ruled that Apple is entitled to compensation for its intellectual property.
The appellate court remanded the case to the district court and Judge Gonzalez Rogers to determine the appropriate fee amount.
Now, the district court will evaluate Apple’s proposed fees and hear responses from Epic Games. Apple is required to implement the fees set by the court.
Meanwhile, Apple, after losing at the appellate court level, has filed an appeal to the Supreme Court.
If the Supreme Court rules that the appellate court erred in upholding the ruling on the violation of the court order, then the district court’s ruling prohibiting Apple from charging fees to app developers could be overturned.