Phoenix 24
The company submitted the proposed commission structure to a U.S. court as part of its legal dispute with Epic Games, but the fees have not yet been authorized.
California, United States, August 14, 2026.— Apple wants to collect commissions on certain digital purchases completed outside the App Store when users reach an external website through a link within an iPhone application.
The proposed structure would impose a fee of up to 15% on transactions associated with standard applications. Some video, news and mini-app services could face a reduced rate of 10%, while eligible developers enrolled in Apple’s Small Business Program could pay 5%.
Apple argues that applications continue to benefit from its technology, development tools, security systems and distribution infrastructure even when purchases are processed through an external website rather than its in-app payment system.
The proposal is the latest development in the legal battle initiated by Epic Games in 2020. The creator of Fortnitedeliberately bypassed Apple’s payment system to avoid its commissions, prompting the removal of the game and a broader lawsuit over competition in the mobile software market.
A 2021 injunction required Apple to let developers inform users about alternative purchasing options. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers later concluded that the company had willfully violated that order by imposing restrictions and commissions that discouraged external payments.
The existing court order currently prevents Apple from collecting commissions on purchases completed through external links in the United States. An appeals court, however, left open the possibility that the company could recover narrowly defined costs associated with those transactions.
Epic rejects Apple’s proposed rates, arguing that they exceed any legitimate operational expense. The developer maintains that a fee of up to 15% would continue discouraging payment alternatives and preserve much of Apple’s control over digital commerce.
The outcome could affect gaming, music, video, publishing and subscription services. Although developers would formally pay the commission, some could transfer the additional expense to consumers or withdraw external purchasing options.
Apple’s proposal is therefore not an active fee or a final policy. Its implementation will depend on pending judicial decisions and whether the company can prove that the charges compensate for necessary services without violating the injunction.
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