Apple proposes to take 15% cut on external purchases in attempt to settle dispute with Epic Games
- Marijan Hassan - Tech Journalist
- 10 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Apple has filed a new court-ordered proposal in federal court proposing a revised 15% commission on U.S. purchases made through external web links embedded inside iOS apps. The filing marks the tech giant's latest attempt to resolve its legal dispute with Epic Games over App Store anti-steering rules and external payment links.
The submission follows previous court rulings that found Apple's earlier 27% external transaction fee violated anti-steering injunctions, briefly prohibiting Apple from collecting commissions on off-platform link-out sales.
A Tiered External Commission Structure
Submitted to Chief U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, Apple’s proposed model slashes its standard commission rates in half for purchases completed on a developer’s website after tapping an in-app link:
Standard Apps: A 15% commission on external link purchases (down from the standard 30% In-App Purchase rate).
Partner Programs & Subscription Renewals: A 10% commission for developers in the Video, News, or Mini Apps Partner Programs, as well as recurring subscription renewals past year one.
Small Business Program: A 5% commission for qualifying developers generating under $1 million annually (down from 15%).
Platform Value vs. External Payment Freedom
In its court filing, Apple argued that the revised percentage is reasonable compensation for providing developers access to its developer tools, security framework, App Store distribution, and iOS customer base, even if the physical transaction is processed on an external web browser.
Apple also cited Google Play’s external link-out fee structure (which ranges from 10% to 20%) to assert that its proposed rates are competitive within the mobile platform market.
Epic Games and rival developers contend that imposing any percentage fee on off-app transactions undermines the spirit of the court's anti-steering mandate, turning external links into a secondary platform toll.
Next Steps in Court
The proposed rates will not take effect immediately. Judge Gonzalez Rogers must review Apple's filing and determine whether the reduced 5% to 15% commission structure complies with existing injunctions before Apple can begin collecting fees on external sales.
