Apple Proposes 12%-27% Fees on Purchases via External App Store Links
Apple proposes charging 12%-27% fees on digital purchases from external app links after court ruling.
Why it matters: This update changes how developers pay commissions on external purchases, impacting app marketplace economics and platform control amid antitrust scrutiny.
- Apple's proposal includes 12%-27% commission fees on digital purchases made through external links in apps.
- The Ninth Circuit ruled in December 2025 that apps can include external purchase links avoiding Apple's in-app purchase system.
- The court confirmed Apple’s right to license its intellectual property but barred fees tied to Apple’s security and privacy features for external sales.
- Epic Games challenged Apple's fee plan in court, arguing the proposed commissions are excessive and unjustified for external transactions.
Apple recently submitted a proposal to charge developers commission fees between 12% and 27% on digital goods and services bought via external links embedded in apps. This proposal comes after the Ninth Circuit Court's December 2025 ruling that allows developers to include links directing users outside the App Store to alternative purchase options.
The court recognized Apple's right to license its intellectual property and earn fees, stating, "Apple is entitled to license its intellectual property for a fee, and to guard its intellectual property from uncompensated use by others." However, it also ruled Apple cannot collect commissions for the security and privacy protections it exclusively offers through its in-app purchase system, effectively prohibiting fees tied to these features for external transactions.
Epic Games, a key litigant in this ongoing dispute, has opposed Apple's fee proposal. In a December 2025 emergency court application, Epic argued that the commission rates are excessive and unwarranted given Apple's limited involvement with external purchases. Epic contends the fees impose an unfair financial burden on developers and consumers and are not justified by Apple's role in these transactions.
This legal battle over Apple's commission fees reflects a larger debate on the control platform operators exert over digital marketplaces. Apple's proposal aims to sustain revenue streams as court decisions open commerce channels beyond its tightly controlled in-app purchase infrastructure.
The outcome will be closely watched by developers, regulators, and legal experts alike, as it could reshape the economics of app marketplaces, platform governance, and antitrust enforcement in technology sectors.
By the numbers:
- 12%-27% — Proposed commission fees Apple would charge on purchases via external app links
- December 2025 — Date of Ninth Circuit ruling allowing external purchase links in apps
- 25-2935 — Docket number of the Ninth Circuit Court case relevant to Apple’s new proposal
Yes, but: While the Ninth Circuit permits Apple to charge fees on external purchases, it limits commissions tied to the security and privacy features Apple exclusively offers within its own system, potentially lowering the scope of justified fees.
What's next: Apple and Epic Games may engage in further legal proceedings or regulatory review as the commission fee framework is implemented and challenged.