Apple’s 15% commission is at the center of Apple’s latest move, as the company is seeking permission to collect a commission of up to 15% on off-app store purchases made outside the App Store in the United States, with a 15% rate for standard apps and further discounts for developers enrolled in special Apple programs, marking a new twist in its long-running legal fight with Epic Games.
The proposal, filed in federal court this week, would allow Apple to take a percentage of transactions completed through external links from iPhone and iPad apps. The move comes as the company responds to a court battle over how developers can direct customers to alternative payment options.
Under Apple’s proposed structure, standard apps would pay a 15% commission on qualifying external purchases. Developers in some Apple partner programs and eligible subscription renewals would be charged 10%, while developers in the Small Business Program would pay 5%.
This is an important proposal because these off-app store purchases happen outside of Apple’s own in-app payment system. Apple, however, says it should be able to charge a fee because its ecosystem provides developers with tools, technology, and other services that support their businesses.
Apple had knowingly broken a 2021 injunction by maintaining restrictions on outside purchasing, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled in April 2025. A court ordered Apple not to take commissions on transactions made through external links, but a federal appeals court later suggested the company could charge fees linked to legitimate costs. Most recently, the Supreme Court declined to pause lower court proceedings as it considers whether Apple can be held in contempt for charging a 27% fee on off-app store purchases.
Google Pixel 11: Every Major Leak and Surprise Ahead of Launch
Apple’s latest filing aims to establish a different fee structure under that legal framework. Epic, however, has fought the proposal, arguing that Apple shouldn’t be allowed to take a cut of transactions that occur outside of its payment system.
This is not a percentage dispute anymore. “Off-app store purchases” can provide developers with more control over pricing and potentially lower transaction costs. That would reduce the economic value of the App Store ecosystem for Apple, who would be enabling those transactions without remuneration.
Apple already has deals with third-party vendors in several markets. Its current developer terms, for example, include a 15% commission on store services for certain “off-app store purchases” initiated by a link from an app, with reduced rates for qualifying developers and some subscription purchases.
Apple has not yet settled on a 15% commission in the U.S. for “off-app store purchases. But the court still has to decide whether Apple’s proposed rates comply with the orders covering the Epic dispute. That decision could have lasting implications for the way developers and consumers make digital purchases on Apple’s platforms.
