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TL;DR: What You'll Actually Pay
There are four potential ways to sell outside Apple's in-app purchase, but only three are available:
1. Standalone webshop (0% Apple fee): Users find your website independently
2. Webshop with in-app link (fees vary): "Buy on our website" button in your app
3. In-app alternative billing: prohibited in the US (Apple does not allow embedded third-party payment forms in US apps, unlike Google Play)
4. Direct checkout link (same fees as #2): Link to a checkout page instead of a store
Apple can only charge fees when you link from your app. Options 2 and 4 both use Apple's External Purchase Link Entitlement.
How Much Does Apple Charge on Standalone Webshop Sales?
Option 1: Webshop (no link from your app)
Users find your website independently. Apple has no visibility into these purchases.
Region | Standard IAP | Webshop | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
All regions | 30% | 0% | $3.60 saved (80%) |
What Are Apple's Fees for In-App External Purchase Links?
Option 2: In-app alternative checkout (link from your app)
You add a "buy on our website" button inside your app. Apple tracks and charges fees on these purchases.
Region | Standard IAP (Apple fee) | In-app to webshop checkout (Apple fee) | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
US | 30% | 0% (temporary) | $3.60 saved (80%) |
EU | 20% | 20% | $0.60 saved (13%) |
Japan | 30% | 21% | $1.35 saved (30%) |
South Korea | 30% | 26% | -$0.30 (costs more) |
Everywhere else | 30% | Prohibited | Must use IAP |
Example: On a $15 purchase
Scenario | Apple fee | DTC costs (~6%) | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
Webshop (any region) | $0 | $0.90 | $14.10 |
US in-app alternative checkout | $0 | $0.90 | $14.10 |
EU in-app alt checkout (20%) | $3.00 | $0.90 | $11.10 |
Standard IAP | $4.50 | $0 | $10.50 |
DTC costs include payment processing, platform fees, fraud protection, etc. Actual costs vary.
Summary: In-App Alternative Checkout Fees
These fees apply when you link from your app to external payment. Standalone webshops (no in-app link) have 0% Apple fees.
Region | Apple Commission | Status |
|---|---|---|
US | 0% | Temporary (pending court determination of "reasonable" rate) |
EU | 20% | Store Services + Initial Acquisition + Core Technology Commission |
South Korea | 26% | StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement |
Japan | 21% | Available since December 18, 2025 (MSCA compliance) |
Other regions | Prohibited | Must use IAP (30%) |
Does Apple Charge a Commission on External Payments in the US?
US: Zero Commission (Temporary)
Following the April 30, 2025 Epic v. Apple ruling, Apple cannot charge commission on purchases made through external payment links in US apps.
What happened: Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in willful contempt. Apple had imposed a 27% commission on external transactions. The court found this was designed to make external payments economically unviable, developers would pay 27% to Apple plus payment processing fees, which essentially exceeds the 30% IAP rate. The court barred Apple from collecting any commission on off-app purchases.
December 11, 2025: The Ninth Circuit upheld the contempt finding but modified the remedy. From the court opinion:
"Rather than coercing Apple to comply with the spirit of the Injunction with a reasonable, non-prohibitive commission, the district court used blunt force to ban all commissions, abusing its discretion."
“The Ninth Circuit ruled Apple may charge "a commission based on the costs that are genuinely and reasonably necessary for its coordination of external links for linked-out purchases, but no more." The district court will determine what rate qualifies and the timeline for that decision is unclear.
Current status: 0% commission remains in effect until the district court approves a specific rate.
What Developers Can Do in the US
From Apple's App Store Review Guidelines, Section 3.1.1(a):
"On the United States storefront, there is no prohibition on an app including buttons, external links, or other calls to action, and no entitlement is required to do so."
Link to external checkout from within the app
Use buttons and calls-to-action directing users to external payment
Communicate that items may be available at different prices externally
Offer both IAP and external payment options in the same app
Restrictions (Post-December 2025 Ruling)
The Ninth Circuit ruling affirmed the ban on Apple's "scare screen" warnings but introduced new design restrictions the district court had not imposed:
Apple can prevent external links from being more prominent than IAP options
Apple can restrict font size, button size, and placement—but must allow developers to match Apple's own formatting
Apple can only display a neutral disclosure informing users they are accessing a third-party site
Current status: However, Apple has not published any new guidelines that govern how external links are presented.
What Are Apple's EU Fees Under the Digital Markets Act?
EU: The Three-Fee System
In the EU, Apple allows alternative payments under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). If you want to link users to your webshop or use your own payment processor, you need to apply for Apple's "External Purchase Link Entitlement" (basically permission to add a "buy on our website" button).
The catch: Apple still charges you three separate fees on those external sales.
Important: Unlike Google Play's user choice billing, Apple does not allow third-party payment processors embedded directly in your app in most markets, including the US. You can only link users out to an external website. (Exception: In South Korea, Apple allows pre-approved third-party PSPs within the app itself, and similar embedded options exist in the Netherlands for dating apps.)
Fee Structure
According to Apple's EU offers documentation, developers using external purchase links will pay three fees:
Fee | What it's for | Apple Fee |
|---|---|---|
Store Services Fee | App Store discovery, reviews, updates | 13% |
Initial Acquisition Fee | Apple "finding" you the customer | 2% |
Core Technology Commission | Using iOS/Apple's platform | 5% |
Tier 1 vs Tier 2: You choose. Tier 1 (5%) gives you basic App Store listing. Tier 2 (13%) includes expedited app reviews, App Store featuring, ratings & reviews, search optimization, and app insights.
Fee | Tier 1 | Tier 2 (with promotion) |
|---|---|---|
Store Services Fee (Standard) | 5% | 13% |
Initial Acquisition Fee | 2% | 2% |
Core Technology Commission | 5% | 5% |
Initial Acquisition Fee (The "Finder's Fee")
Apple charges 2% on purchases made by users who downloaded your app in the last 6 months. Their logic: "We helped you find this customer."
From Apple's EU offers documentation:
"Within 6 months after the first install of your app."
Rate: 2% of transaction value
Duration: First 6 months after a user downloads the app
Core Technology Commission (The "Platform Tax")
This is Apple's 5% fee for using iOS. You pay it on every external sale, regardless of when the user downloaded your app.
From Apple's EU offers documentation:
"Starting June 26, 2025, the CTC of 5% applies on sales of digital goods or services that the developer communicates and promotes in their app and can be used in an app on the App Store."
What happened to the €0.50 per install fee? Apple replaced it. The old "Core Technology Fee" (CTF) charged €0.50 per annual install over 1 million. As of January 2026, that's gone, now everyone pays the 5% commission instead.
Total Fees: EU Calculations
What you'll actually pay on a $15 sale:
Scenario | Store Services | Initial Acq. | CTC | Total Apple Fees | You Keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tier 1 (12%) | $0.75 | $0.30 | $0.75 | $1.80 | $13.20 |
Tier 2 (20%) | $1.95 | $0.30 | $0.75 | $3.00 | $12.00 |
Plus ~$0.90 in DTC costs (6%) (payment processing, platform fees, fraud protection, etc.). Actual costs vary.
Tier 1
Component | Rate |
|---|---|
Store Services Fee (Tier 1) | 5% |
Initial Acquisition Fee | 2% |
Core Technology Commission | 5% |
Total Apple Fees | 12% |
Tier 2 (Maximum)
Component | Rate |
|---|---|
Store Services Fee (Tier 2) | 13% |
Initial Acquisition Fee | 2% |
Core Technology Commission | 5% |
Total Apple Fees | 20% |
EU Rule: Pick One Payment Method
You can't offer both Apple IAP and external payments in the same EU app. If you add a "buy on our website" button, you must remove Apple's in-app purchase for digital goods.
From Apple's official documentation:
"Developers may not offer both In-App Purchase and communicate and promote offers for digital goods or services to users in their App Store app on the same storefront."
This only applies to the EU. In the US, you can offer both options side by side.
Other Regions
South Korea
Alternative payments available via the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement following amendments to the Telecommunications Business Act (source).
From Apple's documentation:
"Apple will charge a 26% commission on the price paid by the user, gross of any value-added taxes."
"The entitlement cannot be used in the same app with Apple's in-app purchase system."
Commission: 26% calculated on the total price paid by the user (inclusive of VAT); developers handle VAT collection and remittance separately
Approved PSPs: KCP, Inicis, Toss, NICE
Restriction: Cannot combine with Apple IAP in the same app
Reporting: Monthly, due within 15 calendar days of Apple's fiscal month end
Japan
Japan passed its own app store law (the Mobile Software Competition Act) which took effect December 18, 2025.
From Apple's Japan distribution documentation:
"Developers can distribute apps on alternative app marketplaces, operate alternative app marketplaces, process app payments for digital goods and services outside of Apple In-App Purchase in iOS, and more."
What you'll pay:
Payment method | Apple fee rate |
|---|---|
Your own payment in the app | 21% |
Link to your website | 15% |
Alternative app store | 5% |
The 7-day rule: If you link users to your website, Apple charges 15% on any purchase they make within 7 days of tapping that link.
Deadline: Developers must agree to the new terms by March 17, 2026.
Reader Apps (Global)
Following Apple's 2021 settlement with the Japan Fair Trade Commission, reader apps (magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, video) can include a link to their website for users to manage accounts and make purchases.
Commission on external website transactions: No Apple commission applies
Restriction: Cannot offer in-app purchases on iOS/iPadOS/tvOS while using this entitlement
Scope: Previously purchased content or content subscriptions only
Why Does Apple Have to Allow External Payments?
Legal Basis: Why Apple Has to Allow This
EU: Digital Markets Act (DMA)
The Digital Markets Act is an EU law that says big tech "gatekeepers" (Apple, Google, Meta, etc.) can't force developers to use their payment systems.
In plain English: Apple can't require you to use their in-app purchase system. They must let you link to your own website or use your own payment processor.
If Apple doesn't comply: The EU can fine them up to 10% of global revenue (or 20% for repeat violations). For Apple, that's potentially $40+ billion.
US: Epic v. Apple Court Ruling
In the US, it's not a law, it's a court order. After years of litigation, a judge ruled Apple's 27% fee on external payments was designed to kill competition. Apple was found in contempt and barred from charging any commission (for now).
US vs EU Comparison
US | EU | |
|---|---|---|
1. Standalone webshop | 0% | 0% |
2. Webshop with in-app link | 0% (temporary) | 12-20% |
3. In-app alternative billing | Prohibited | Prohibited |
4. Direct checkout link | 0% (temporary) | 12-20% |
Third-party payment processing fee | Varies by provider | Varies by provider |
Legal basis | Epic v. Apple ruling | Digital Markets Act |
Status | Pending court direction on acceptable fee to charge on external payments. | There’s no indication that changes are coming. |
Can combine with IAP | Yes | No |
Key Dates
Date | Event |
|---|---|
March 6, 2024 | EU: DMA compliance deadline for designated gatekeepers |
April 30, 2025 | US: Apple barred from charging commission (Epic v. Apple ruling) |
June 26, 2025 | |
December 11, 2025 | US: Ninth Circuit upholds contempt finding, allows "reasonable" commission |
December 18, 2025 | Japan: Alternative payment options become available (MSCA compliance) |
January 1, 2026 | EU: Core Technology Fee transitions to Core Technology Commission |
January 22, 2026 | US: Epic v. Google settlement hearing (rescheduled from December 11) |
March 17, 2026 | |
TBD | US: District court determines "reasonable" commission rate |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Apple charge fees in the US?
Not currently. The court banned all commissions on external purchases. Apple can resume charging fees only after the district court approves a "reasonable, non-prohibitive" rate.
What might a "reasonable" commission be?
Unknown. The Ninth Circuit stated it must cover only costs "genuinely and reasonably necessary" for coordinating external links. The district court has not set a timeline for this determination.
Is the EU fee structure better than IAP?
Depends on the scenario. Under EU alternative terms, IAP commission is reduced to 17%:
Standard developer, Tier 1: 12% external fees vs. 17% IAP (alternative terms)
Standard developer, Tier 2: 20% external fees vs. 17% IAP (alternative terms)
What about the old Core Technology Fee (€0.50 per install)?
It's gone. As of January 1, 2026, the per-install fee was replaced by the 5% Core Technology Commission on sales. See Apple's documentation for details on the transition.
