Apple wants to charge up to a 15% commission on purchases outside the App Store in the U.S.
Apple says it must allow U.S. developers to redirect users to pay outside the App Store after a 2024 court ruling. Apple previously set a 27% fee, but Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers barred Apple from taking money in spring 2025. Apple now seeks approval of new outside-App Store commissions: 15% standard apps, 10% certain affiliate/subscription renewals, 5% for developers under $1M revenue. Epic Games plans to object within 60 days.
How this was made
The 30-second read
Why it matters
Apple is now asking the court to reinstate commissions using lower tiers (15% standard apps, 10% affiliate/subscription renewals, 5% under $1M annual revenue developers), while Epic plans to file an objection within 60 days.
Market read
This is a live legal/regulatory development that can change perceived App Store take-rate risk and developer payment economics for Apple.
What to watch
Developer adoption and payment routing behavior may matter more than the headline commission rates, and the article does not quantify expected volume of off-store transactions.
Background
Apple previously introduced a 27% fee for off-App-Store payments after a 2024 court ruling, but Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers later prohibited Apple from taking money from those purchases.
Ticker impact
Apple seeks court approval to reinstate off-App-Store payment commissions, proposing 15%/10%/5% tiers after a judge barred the prior fee.
Moderate positive bias for AAPL expectations around App Store take-rate stability, but magnitude likely limited by ongoing legal uncertainty.
The article describes a concrete legal proposal and a prior injunction, which can affect perceived regulatory risk and take-rate durability, but it does not confirm approval or timing beyond an objection window.
Market effects
Highlights ongoing regulatory pressure on platform fees, which can influence broader App Store and mobile payments risk premia.
Primarily US legal/regulatory risk for large US platform equities.
Could affect global platform fee frameworks and developer economics narratives beyond the US.
Counterpoint
Even with a revised fee proposal, the court may reject or further constrain Apple’s ability to charge, limiting any near-term valuation benefit.
Key entities
- companyApple
US platform company seeking court approval for revised off-App-Store commission rates.
- companyEpic Games
Opposes Apple’s proposed fee structure and plans to file an objection with expert comments.
- personJudge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers
Oversees the case and previously prohibited Apple from taking money from off-App-Store purchases.
