Mobile devs now hold the keys to sidestep Apple’s infamous “App Store tax.”
After years locked in Apple’s walled garden requiring In-App Purchases (and surrendering 30% of revenue), the supreme court decided not to review Apple vs Epic – finally giving developers an alternative payment option. But this hard-won concession rings hollow.
While Apple now allows external purchase links bypassing its payment system, it still demands a 27% commission! Devs migrating transactions outside iOS only save 3% for handling transactions, which may not cover the costs like fraud that Apple previously handled. For most, that paltry savings won’t justify the extra work.
Of course, those with existing e-commerce can leverage it without needing to build In-App Purchase (IAP) functionality from scratch. But for small devs already relying on IAP, Apple’s “choice” offers meager relief.
