Apple proposes 5% to 15% fees for external App Store purchases

App Store commission external payment links Epic Games v. Apple digital marketplace fees antitrust litigation

Apple has submitted a proposed fee structure to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California regarding digital purchases made via external links. This filing is part of the ongoing legal battle with Epic Games following a 2021 injunction that requires Apple to allow developers to direct users to external payment systems.

Under the new proposal, Apple suggests a tiered commission model: 15% for standard apps, 10% for specific partner programs (including News, Video, and Mini Apps) and subscription renewals, and 5% for participants in the Small Business Program. Apple argues these rates, supported by expert analysis, allow the company to recover compensation for its intellectual property and tools while remaining profitable for developers.

Epic Games has strongly opposed the proposal, arguing that the fees are “far outside of the bounds” of judicial guidance. Epic contends that because the Ninth Circuit suggested commissions should be limited to “necessary costs,” the rate should effectively be 0%. The dispute remains active as the Supreme Court considers whether Apple willfully violated previous court orders, and Apple has also requested a court-ordered settlement meeting, which Epic has not yet agreed to.

Entities

Apple · Epic Games · Google · Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] Standard apps would be charged a 15% fee for purchases made via links outside the App Store. appleworld.today · www.macrumors.com · www.mactech.com
[● 3 SOURCES] A 10% fee is proposed for the Video Partner Program, News Partner Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, and subscription renewals. appleworld.today · www.macrumors.com · www.mactech.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Apps in the Small Business Program would be charged a 5% fee. appleworld.today · www.macrumors.com · www.mactech.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Apple claims its proposed fees are lower than the link-out rates charged by Google in the Epic v. Google case. www.macrumors.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Small Business Program participants are those that earn under $1 million per year. www.macrumors.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Apple submitted a proposed fee structure to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. appleworld.today · www.macrumors.com · www.mactech.com