An app store commission is a percentage fee charged by platform operators, such as Apple or Google, on digital transactions processed within applications. The ongoing legal battle between Apple and Epic Games centers on whether Apple can continue to collect these commissions on transactions initiated through external links outside of its proprietary in-app purchase (IAP) system.
According to recent court filings, Apple has proposed a framework that would allow it to collect fees on digital purchases made via external websites, even if those transactions bypass the standard Apple IAP architecture (The Verge, 2025). Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, argues that this proposal violates previous court guidance, claiming Apple is attempting to circumvent mandates that require more open competition in digital marketplaces.
The court is involved because of a long-standing antitrust dispute regarding Apple’s "walled garden" ecosystem. In 2021, a federal judge issued an injunction requiring Apple to allow developers to include links or buttons that direct users to alternative payment methods (Epic Games v. Apple, 2021). The current conflict arises from Apple’s interpretation of that injunction and the methods it uses to track and monetize transactions occurring outside its direct control.
In April 2025, a California district court judge found that Apple had "willfully" failed to comply with the 2021 injunction, specifically noting that the company’s restrictive policies continued to stifle developer choice (The Verge, 2025). This judicial finding has forced Apple to reconsider how it accounts for revenue generated by apps that steer users toward web-based checkout flows.
Apple maintains that it is entitled to a commission on digital goods sold to users who discover those goods through its App Store, regardless of where the payment is processed. The company argues that the App Store provides the discovery, distribution, and security infrastructure that makes these sales possible, justifying a "platform fee" (Apple Inc. v. Epic Games, 2024).
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More from GroundworkConversely, Epic Games contends that forcing developers to pay a fee on external transactions is a "tax" that maintains Apple’s monopoly power. Epic argues that if a transaction occurs entirely outside of Apple’s software, Apple provides no service for that specific purchase and therefore should not be entitled to a percentage of the revenue. Legal experts suggest that the outcome of this debate will set a significant precedent for how "gatekeeper" platforms handle third-party payment processing in the future.
For the average consumer, this dispute determines whether app developers can offer lower prices for digital subscriptions or in-game items when you pay through a browser instead of the App Store. If Apple is permitted to charge its standard commission on external links, developers may choose not to offer lower prices, as their total costs would remain effectively the same.
If the courts eventually rule that Apple cannot charge these fees, you may see developers aggressively pushing users toward web-based payment systems to avoid Apple’s 15% to 30% commission. This could lead to more competitive pricing for digital goods, as developers pass the savings from lower transaction fees directly to you. However, this also introduces potential friction, as you would need to leave the app environment to complete purchases, which can impact the overall user experience and security of your financial data.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is currently reviewing the scope of the original injunction to determine exactly what Apple is required to allow (The Verge, 2025). While the district court has been critical of Apple’s compliance, the appellate process will provide the final interpretation of how far Apple’s "anti-steering" policies can legally go.
For now, the situation remains in a state of transition. Developers are caught between Apple’s strict enforcement policies and the court’s push for increased openness. If you are a developer or a heavy user of digital services, keep an eye on appellate rulings, as these will dictate whether you can reliably pay lower prices for digital services outside of Apple’s integrated ecosystem.
