Apple Can't Charge Fees on US Web Purchases Yet. What It Means for You

On October 1, 2026, Apple's new single set of business terms for the European Union took effect. They allow alternative payments and set a 15% standard fee on sales that start from a link in an app. In the US, the Supreme Court agreed on June 30, 2026 to review part of the contempt ruling against Apple. Under a December 2025 appeals ruling, Apple may not charge a commission on purchases made through links out of its apps until a judge approves a fee. For you, that means more "buy on website" buttons and payment choices, no guaranteed price cuts, and refunds handled by the developer when you pay outside the store.

Key takeaways

US apps can link to outside purchase options. Apple may charge nothing on those sales until the trial court approves a fee based on its costs.
Google's US injunction, upheld on appeal in July 2025, still stands. Epic and Google withdrew their joint bid to change it on July 14, 2026. Google's new fee structure began June 30, 2026.
When you buy outside the store, the developer handles refunds and billing support. Apple says Family Sharing and Ask to Buy do not apply.
In the $9.99 example below, a developer keeps $6.99 at a 30% fee and $9.69 at an assumed 3% card fee. Nothing requires it to pass the $2.70 on to you.
UK steering rules are only proposed, with a CMA decision expected later in 2026.

What it means for you

iPhone users in the US: expect links to pay on a developer's website. See the on-screen and refund sections.
Android users in the US: external links are an optional developer program, with Google's fees starting in stages.
EU users: since October 1, 2026, apps may offer other payment methods next to Apple's, with parental gates for under-18s.
Japan and UK users: Japan's law has been fully in force since December 18, 2025. UK rules are still a proposal.
Subscribers: check where each subscription is billed before asking for a refund.
Parents: Apple says Ask to Buy does not cover outside purchases. How Family Link handles them is unclear.

Where the rules stand, by region

Every item comes from a court document, a regulator page or the company's own pages. Status is as of October 17, 2026.

Region and company	What is decided	Status
US, Apple	Apple's App Review Guidelines let US storefront apps include buttons and external links without an entitlement. On April 30, 2025 the trial judge held Apple in contempt and barred any commission on these sales. On December 11, 2025 the Ninth Circuit upheld the contempt finding. It found Apple's 27% commission "had a prohibitive effect" and sent the zero-commission ban back for changes. Apple may eventually charge a commission based on costs "genuinely and reasonably necessary" to coordinate those links, including some payment for its intellectual property, but nothing until the court approves a fee.	On August 11, 2026 the trial judge refused to pause the fee proceedings (Appendix 1 of Apple's filing). The Supreme Court docket shows review granted on June 30, 2026, limited to Question 1. It also shows Apple's request to halt the trial court denied on August 13. No later fee ruling was found.
US, Google	The Ninth Circuit affirmed the October 2024 injunction on July 31, 2025. It runs to November 1, 2027. Google's June 24, 2026 announcement set a 10% service fee on a developer's first $1 million a year and on all auto-renewing subscriptions. A 5% billing fee applies only when Google Play's billing is used. Both took effect June 30, 2026 in the US, UK and EEA.	On July 14, 2026, Epic and Google withdrew their motion to modify the injunction, and Google said it "continues to comply" with it.
EU, Apple	The European Commission fined Apple €500 million on April 23, 2025 for breaching the Digital Markets Act's anti-steering obligation. Apple's August 18, 2026 notice moves all EU developers to one set of terms.	Effective October 1, 2026. Rates are below.
UK, Apple and Google	The CMA designated both with strategic market status on October 22, 2025. That "is not a finding of wrongdoing."	The CMA consulted on steering rules on June 30, 2026 and will decide "later this year." The case page shows responses published August 14 and no steering requirement imposed.
Japan, Apple and Google	The Mobile Software Competition Act entered full enforcement on December 18, 2025. Apple's December 17, 2025 announcement added alternative payments and website links.	In force. Google's billing choice page lists Japan from September 30, 2026.

EU rates under Apple's new terms

Apple's EU page lists these commissions from October 1, 2026. Reduced rates apply to Small Business, Mini Apps Partner and Video Partner members, and to auto-renewing subscriptions after their first year.

Route the sale takes	Standard	Reduced
Apple In-App Purchase	26%	15%
Alternative payment processing inside the app	20%	10%
Store services, for sales within 7 days of tapping a link to a website	15%	10%

Apps distributed outside the App Store pay a 5% Core Technology Commission instead, which replaces the old per-install fee. Developers must keep the payment options they offer for 12 months. Kids category apps cannot offer website purchases, and users under 13 cannot be offered them either. Users aged 13 to 17 face a parental gate on alternative payments and website offers. Where a country sets a higher age of consent, such as 16, the age bands rise to match.

A $9.99 subscription, three ways

This example is illustrative. A developer sells a $9.99 monthly subscription. Apple's subscriptions page gives developers 70% in the first year and 85% after a year of paid service, minus applicable taxes. The Small Business Program sets 15% for developers with up to $1 million in proceeds. The 3% web checkout fee is an assumption, close to the 3% "cost of payments discount" Apple used to set its 27% rate, according to the Ninth Circuit. The example ignores taxes, refunds and fraud.

developer keeps = price × (1 − fee rate)
$9.99 × (1 − 0.30) = $6.99 a month  ($83.92 a year)
$9.99 × (1 − 0.15) = $8.49 a month  ($101.90 a year)
$9.99 × (1 − 0.03) = $9.69 a month  ($116.28 a year)

Scenario	Fee on $9.99	Developer keeps per month	Per year
30% (first-year subscription, standard rate)	$3.00	$6.99	$83.92
15% (Small Business Program, or after year one)	$1.50	$8.49	$101.90
Web checkout, assumed 3% card fee	$0.30	$9.69	$116.28

The gap between the first and third rows is $2.70 a month, or $32.37 a year. With an assumed $0.30 fixed charge on top, web costs reach $0.60 and the gap narrows to $2.40. On a $0.99 item the advantage disappears: 3% plus $0.30 is about $0.33, more than a 30% fee of about $0.30. In the US, the third row is what a linked-out sale looks like today, because Apple may not charge a commission on it yet. Through Google Play's billing in the US, the subscription would carry the 10% service fee plus the 5% billing fee, $1.50 in total.

These numbers show what the developer keeps, not what you pay. No rule reviewed here requires a price cut, so a developer can keep charging $9.99. Developers also take on support and payment disputes the store used to handle.

What changes on your screen

Links and payment options

Where outside purchases are allowed, you may see a "buy on website" button, or a choice between Apple's or Google's checkout and the developer's own, sometimes at different prices. Developers do not have to offer these, so many apps will look the same.

Refunds and billing history

Apple's support article on purchases not billed through the App Store says to contact the developer for billing support or a refund, and that Apple cannot help with refunds, purchase history or subscription cancellation for those purchases. Google's US program requires developers to offer support and refunds for purchases outside Play. The exception is a purchase the user was clearly told was non-refundable before buying. Keep the receipt email and note which route you used.

Scam risk and payment details

Apple warns that paying outside its system adds security and privacy risks. Its Japan announcement says Apple "will not be able to issue refunds" on those transactions. Open the payment page from inside the app, not from a message or an ad, to avoid copycat sites.

Parents and shared accounts

Apple says Family Sharing and Ask to Buy do not apply to purchases outside its payment system. The sources reviewed do not say how Google Family Link handles web purchases, so check its approval settings and the app's checkout before handing a child a device.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Supreme Court case decide how much Apple can charge?

Not directly. The question under review is whether a court may find civil contempt for violating an injunction's "spirit" when the injunction is silent on that conduct. Epic's brief is due November 13, 2026, and no argument date is listed. The trial judge wrote on August 11 that the fee fact-finding "will need to be done irrespective of the Supreme Court's ruling."

Is Google charging fees on US external links right now?

Google charges the developer, not you. Its US external links page says this optional program exists because of the court order and may change if the order does. Since a July 22, 2026 update, enrolled developers pay the service fee from October 1, 2026 and download fees by December 1, 2026.

Do developers have to pass savings on to users?

No such rule turned up in the US, EU or Japan sources reviewed. The CMA's UK proposal expects savings to be "passed onto UK customers or invested back into the developers' businesses," but no decision has been made.

Was the EU fine the reason for Apple's new EU terms?

The Commission's April 2025 decision ordered Apple to remove its steering restrictions within 60 days or risk periodic penalty payments. Apple's August 18, 2026 notice does not mention the fine. It says the changes follow "close collaboration with the European Commission." No Commission statement on the new terms was found.

Will I see a warning before I leave the app to pay?

That depends on your region. In the US, the Ninth Circuit upheld an order limiting Apple to "a neutral message" that users are going to a third-party site. It said Apple's earlier "scare screen" was "at best, designed to evade" the injunction. In Brazil, Japan and the EU, Apple's support article says the App Store shows a banner on apps that offer outside purchases.

Before you pay outside the store

Open the website from the app, not from an email, text or ad, and check the address before entering a card.
Compare in-app and web prices for the same plan and billing period.
Save the receipt email; the developer handles refunds and billing for that purchase.
If a child uses the device, check how the app and Family Link or Ask to Buy treat web purchases.
Check the subscription lists in your Apple Account, Google Play and email so you know where each is billed.

This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. The rules are still changing, so confirm current terms on the developer's and platform's own pages.