On Thursday, August 13, 2026, Apple submitted a court filing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California outlining the commission structure it wants to charge for purchases that begin from external links placed inside iOS apps.
Under Apple’s proposal, standard apps would face a 15% commission. The filing also proposes reduced rates for developers enrolled in specific Apple programs:
- 5% for developers in the Small Business Program.
- 10% for participants in the Video Partner Program, News Partner Program, and Mini Apps Partner Program.
- 10% for subscription renewals.
The filing arrives amid a years-long legal dispute between Apple and Epic Games over App Store commission policies. Apple had attempted to delay providing this part of its response to the court, arguing the lower-court proceedings should wait for a separate United States Supreme Court decision. That related issue concerned whether Apple had been in contempt of a court order when it imposed a 27% commission on purchases routed through external links and adopted rules limiting how developers could present those links to users.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Apple’s request to pause the lower-court action, which forced Apple to reveal its proposed fee schedule. In its filing Apple argued it should be allowed to collect fees on in-app purchases conducted by users on its devices to help recoup investments in the tools, technology, and services that support the App Store and its software ecosystem.
Apple also compared its proposed link-out fees to Google Play’s structure, noting Google charges 20% for link-outs from standard apps, 15% for apps in certain special programs, and 10% for subscription renewals; Apple noted Epic Games had accepted those Google rates.
Epic Games responded to Apple’s filing by saying the proposed fees are “far outside of the bounds” of the court’s guidance on permissible fees. The filing also states that Apple admitted under the Ninth Circuit’s definition of “necessary costs” it would charge 0% for purchases made via linkouts to the web.
The case’s outcome will influence how developers can offer external payment options on iOS devices and what fees consumers and developers may face for purchases initiated outside the App Store’s in-app purchase system.
Key dates and figures
- Filing and public reactions: Thursday, August 13, 2026.
- Proposed rates: 15% (standard apps), 10% (Video/News/Mini Apps and subscription renewals), 5% (Small Business Program).
- Earlier Apple measure referenced in litigation: 27% commission on purchases via external links.
Future court rulings and filings will determine whether the proposed fee structure is permitted and how external purchasing flows will be regulated on Apple devices.
