Apple Eases External Purchase Links in Europe: Introduces New Commission Fee

Apple is adapting to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by making concessions in some areas while introducing new fees in others. In April, the European Union fined Apple 500 million euros for not complying with DMA regulations. In response to potential penalties, the company announced upcoming changes for developers yesterday. It will now be easier to install third-party stores, and external purchase links will be allowed under certain conditions.

The first major change: developers can now promote their subscriptions and other purchases that don’t go through the App Store, including through links. For instance, a service like Spotify could now insert a link encouraging users to subscribe through its website. Developers can now include a link to a website, a third-party app store, or another app. Purchases can be made outside the app, through a web view or even a native window.

However, there is a catch. Developers wanting to take advantage of this change will still need to pay a fee to Apple. The company has introduced an initial acquisition fee of 2%, charged when a user makes a purchase via an external link within six months of downloading the app. Apple justifies this fee by noting that the App Store facilitated the app’s discovery. Additionally, there are service store fees ranging from 5% to 13% depending on the services used, applicable for 12 months after installation, even if purchases are made outside the app. Apple states this covers the costs of distribution, security, and marketing of the App Store.

A new fee called the Core Technology Commission (CTC) is also being introduced. This will soon replace the Core Technology Fee (CTF), which was introduced with the first third-party stores and required developers to pay €0.50 for each installation from the first million onwards. The CTC will account for 5% of the revenue from sales of goods or digital services made via an in-app link. This rate is adjustable depending on whether the developer participates in various programs. Some will continue paying the CTF while others will switch to the CTC, but both systems will be unified by 2026. Recognizing the complexity, Apple is offering 30-minute appointments to developers who need clarification.

In another development, Apple is simplifying the installation of third-party stores starting with iOS 18.6. It will be easier to install platforms like AltStore PAL or the Epic Games Store, as the current process involves multiple steps within the Settings. Users will soon only need to authorize the installation and sign in with Face ID, reducing the number of clicks required.

Apple has also announced changes to the installation of apps from a website, a feature technically in place but not yet seen in action. Initially, several panels must be validated before installing a first app, requiring navigation through the Settings. The process will be simplified for subsequent projects from the same developer, requiring only a simple authentication.

Finally, Apple announced the upcoming deployment that will allow downloading an app from the web directly through another app. For example, a developer could create a page with their various apps and links for direct downloads. Several panels will need to be accepted the first time, but the process will be simplified thereafter.