US court rules Apple can charge fees for external payment links

A US federal appeals court has ruled that Apple is allowed to charge developers a “reasonable commission” when they include links to third-party payment services inside their apps.

The ruling also confirms that Apple may control the design and placement of such links to ensure they do not appear more appealing than the App Store’s built-in payment method.

The decision stems from Apple’s long-running legal battle with Epic Games, which has been seeking the right to use alternative payment systems without paying Apple’s fees. It is now up to the district court to determine the maximum permissible commission, meaning the new rules will take effect at a later date.

Apple previously introduced a 27% commission to comply with an earlier court order, effectively making external payments financially unattractive. The appeals court found this approach to be a way of circumventing the ruling and directed Apple to recalculate the fee so that it covers only operating costs and intellectual property — but not security expenses.

Some developer groups, including participants in the News Partner Program, will continue to be allowed to provide alternative payment links without additional restrictions.