Apple has proposed taking a commission of up to 15% on purchases made through external payment links in iPhone and iPad apps, even when those transactions are completed outside the App Store. The proposal is the latest development in the company’s long-running legal battle with Epic Games over Apple’s App Store payment rules.
Apple Seeks Court Approval for New Fee Structure
Apple submitted its proposed commission structure to a federal court in the United States after the Supreme Court declined to pause the ongoing proceedings. The proposal follows a dispute over Apple’s earlier attempt to impose a 27% commission on purchases made through external links.
Under Apple’s latest proposal, the rates would vary depending on the type of developer or service.
- 15% for standard apps
- 10% for apps participating in Apple’s Video Partner, News Partner and Mini Apps Partner programs
- 10% for subscription renewals
- 5% for developers enrolled in Apple’s Small Business Program
The proposed rates would apply to qualifying purchases made after a user follows an external payment link from an iOS app.
Why Is Apple Seeking a Commission?
Apple argues that developers should contribute toward the costs of the technology, tools, security and services that support the iOS and App Store ecosystem.
The company has also pointed to Google Play’s approach to external transactions as a comparison. Google has its own commission structure for purchases made through links leading outside its store.
However, the proposal remains controversial because the purchases in question would take place outside Apple’s own payment system.
The Epic Games Dispute
The latest proposal is part of Apple’s continuing legal battle with Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite.
The dispute began after Epic challenged Apple’s App Store rules and payment restrictions. A US court subsequently ordered Apple to allow developers greater freedom to direct customers to alternative payment options.
In April 2025, a federal judge found that Apple had willfully failed to comply with the earlier injunction. The court’s ruling prevented Apple from collecting certain commissions on external purchases, while later appellate proceedings raised the possibility that Apple could recover fees associated with “necessary costs.”
Epic has argued that Apple should not receive a commission on purchases that are completed outside the App Store.
Epic Opposes Apple’s Proposal
Epic is expected to challenge Apple’s proposed rates, arguing that even a reduced commission would undermine the purpose of allowing developers to direct customers to external payment systems.
The disagreement is particularly significant because Apple itself has acknowledged in the ongoing proceedings that the actual costs it considers “necessary” could effectively be zero.
That makes the question less about payment processing and more about how much control Apple should retain over transactions generated through its platform.
What It Could Mean for Developers
If Apple’s proposal is approved, developers could still use external payment systems, but Apple would potentially receive a percentage of the resulting transaction.
For example, a standard app generating a $100 purchase through an external link could potentially result in a $15 payment to Apple under the proposed 15% rate.
Small developers eligible for Apple’s Small Business Program could face a lower proposed rate of 5%.
For companies with millions of dollars in digital sales, however, even a 10% or 15% commission could represent a substantial amount of money.
Could This Affect Consumers?
The final impact on consumers will depend largely on how developers respond.
Developers could absorb Apple’s proposed fee, pass some or all of the additional cost to customers, or potentially change how they structure payments and subscriptions.
The dispute could therefore have broader implications for the prices of digital subscriptions, games, streaming services and other products purchased through iPhone and iPad apps.
Apple’s own reporting notes that it does not generally collect a commission on purchases of physical goods and services made through apps, or on purchases of digital goods and services completed entirely outside apps.
The Bigger App Store Question
Apple’s proposed 15% commission highlights a much larger debate over the App Store’s role in the mobile economy.
Apple maintains that its ecosystem provides developers with distribution, security, development tools and other services. Developers and companies such as Epic argue that Apple should not be able to collect a commission simply because a transaction originated from an iPhone or iPad app.
The court’s eventual decision could influence how Apple and developers handle external payments in the United States for years to come.
For now, Apple’s proposed 15% commission is not a final rule. The federal court must determine what, if any, fee Apple will ultimately be permitted to charge on qualifying external purchases.
The outcome could become another major milestone in the years-long fight over Apple’s control of the App Store and the economics of mobile software.
