Alternative payment options on the App Store in the European Union

As part of Apple’s response to European Commission’s accouncement in June, developers will have more options for digital goods and services transactions in their apps distributed on the App Store in the EU across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. This includes the ability to continue using the App Store payment processing and related commerce services, integrating an alternative payment service provider (PSP) within their apps, and communicating and promoting offers in the app for digital goods or services at a destination of their choice.

    What’s new

    Starting this fall, developers who use the External Purchase Link Entitlement under the updated Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU or the new StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum, will be able to:

    • Communicate and promote offers for purchases available at a destination of their choice. The destination can be an alternative app marketplace, another app, or a website, and it can be accessed outside the app or via a web view that appears in the app.
    • Design and execute within their apps the communication and promotion of offers. This includes providing information about prices of subscriptions or any other offer available both within or outside the app, and providing explanations or instructions about how to subscribe to offers outside the Application. These communications must provide accurate information regarding the digital goods or services available for purchase.
    • Choose to use an actionable link that can be tapped, clicked, or scanned, to take users to their destination.
    • Use any number of URLs, without declaring them in the app’s Info.plist.
    • Implement links with additional parameters, redirects, and intermediate links to landing pages.

    Introduction

    To get started with new payment processing options for apps distributed in the EU, the Account Holder of your Apple Developer Program membership will need to agree to either the updated Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU or the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum when they become available in the fall. By agreeing to either set of terms, your account will be assigned the StoreKit External entitlements required to complete alternative payment transactions, or communicate and promote offers, in your app. When using these entitlements, you’ll need to:

    • Use required StoreKit External Purchase APIs;
    • Follow usage requirements and specifications designed to help protect people’s privacy and security, prevent scams and fraudulent activity;
    • Report external purchase transactions using the External Purchase Server API; and
    • Pay applicable fees and commissions.
    Preview the agreements

    Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU

    If you agree to the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU, your developer account will be assigned the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement (for completing transactions within your app with an alternative PSP) and the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (for communicating and promoting offers. The agreement allows for three ways to offer digital goods and services for sale, and includes new business terms.

    1. App Store payment processing and related commerce services: Use the In‑App Purchase system from the App Store to complete user transactions for digital goods and services within your app.
      • Reduced commission. For iOS and iPadOS apps on the App Store, you’ll pay a reduced commission of either 10% (for the vast majority of developers and for subscriptions after their first year) or 17% on transactions for digital goods and services, regardless of the payment processing system selected.
      • Payment processing fee. Apps on the App Store can use App Store payment processing for an additional 3% fee. You can use an alternative PSP within your app or link users to your external webpage to process payments with no additional fee from Apple.
    2. Payment Service Providers (PSP): Use an alternative payment processor (PSP) that lets users complete transactions within your app.
      • Reduced commission. For iOS and iPadOS apps on the App Store, you’ll pay a reduced commission of either 10% (for the vast majority of developers and for subscriptions after their first year) or 17% on transactions for digital goods and services, regardless of the payment processing system selected.
    3. Linking out: Communicate and promote offers in your app that is distributed through the App Store, to end users regarding digital goods or services that are available for purchase in a distribution channel of your choice. The distribution channel can be a website, alternative app marketplace, or another app, whether operated by you or someone else, and it can be accessed outside the app, or appear within the app as a web view. In addition, you may choose whether to take users to the destination using an actionable link (i.e., a link that can be tapped, clicked, or scanned).
      • Initial acquisition fee. You’ll pay Apple a fee on all sales of digital goods and services, the customer makes on any platform, that occur within a 12-month period after an initial install. This fee does not apply to transactions made by customers that had an initial install before you make your app available with the entitlement profile to link out. The fee reflects the value the App Store provides when connecting developers with customers in the EU.
      • Store services fee. In addition to the initial acquisition fee, you’ll pay Apple a fee on all sales of digital goods and services, the customer makes on any platform, that occur within a fixed 12-month period from the date of an install, including app updates and reinstalls, after you make your app available with the entitlement profile to link out. This reflects the ongoing services and capabilities that Apple provides developers, including app distribution and management; App Store trust and safety; re-discovery, re-engagement, and promotional tools and services; app insights, and more.

      Developers enrolled in the App Store Small Business Program and subscriptions after their first year will pay Apple a reduced store services fee.

      These fees do not apply to auto-renewals of subscriptions entered into previously, or to sales made pursuant to your use of an alternative PSP or Apple’s In-App Purchase system.

    Rate Time period
    Initial acquisition fee 5% 12 months after an initial install
    Store services fee 10% 12 months after an install (Recurs with update or reinstall)
    Store services fee (for App Store Small Business Program participants or a qualifying auto-renewal subscription beyond one year). 5% 12 months after an install (Recurs with update or reinstall)

    Core Technology Fee (CTF). For iOS and iPadOS apps distributed on the App Store, Web Distribution, and/or an alternative app marketplace that reach significant scale, you’ll pay €0.50 for each first annual install over 1 million first annual installs. Membership in the Apple Developer Program includes 1 million first annual installs per year for free.

    Learn more about the CTF

    To help you understand the potential impact of these business terms, view our Fee Calculator.

    StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum

    If you agree to this addendum to the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, your developer account will be assigned the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement. The agreement allows the ability to link out for purchases of digital goods or services for apps distributed in the EU and includes new business terms for those transactions.

    Linking out: Communicate and promote offers in your app that is distributed through the App Store, to end users regarding digital goods or services that are available for purchase in a distribution channel of your choice. The distribution channel can be a website, alternative app marketplace, or another app, whether operated by you or someone else, and it can be accessed outside the app, or appear within the app as a web view. In addition, you may choose whether to take users to the destination using an actionable link (i.e., a link that can be tapped, clicked, or scanned).

    • Initial acquisition fee. You’ll pay Apple a fee on all sales of digital goods and services, the customer makes on any platform, that occur within a 12-month period after an initial install. This fee does not apply to transactions made by customers that had an initial install before you make your app available with the entitlement profile to link out. The fee reflects the value the App Store provides when connecting developers with customers in the EU.
    • Store services fee. In addition to the initial acquisition fee, you’ll pay Apple a fee on all sales of digital goods and services, the customer makes on any platform, that occur within a fixed 12-month period from the date of an install, including app updates and reinstalls. This reflects the ongoing services and capabilities that Apple provides developers, including tools and technologies; app distribution and management; App Store trust and safety; re-discovery, re-engagement, and promotional tools and services; app insights, and more.

    Developers enrolled in the App Store Small Business Program or renewing a qualifying auto-renewal subscription beyond one year, will pay Apple a reduced store services fee.

    These fees do not apply to auto-renewals of subscriptions entered into previously, or to sales made pursuant to your use of an alternative PSP or Apple’s In-App Purchase system.

    Rate Time period
    Initial acquisition fee 5% 12 months after an initial install
    Store services fee 20% 12 months after an install (Recurs with update or reinstall)
    Store services fee (for App Store Small Business Program participants or a qualifying auto-renewal subscription beyond one year). 7% 12 months after an install (Recurs with update or reinstall)

    Using alternative payments

    Important considerations

    Using alternative PSPs and/or linking out can create new threats to user security and privacy, and may compromise the user experience. Developers considering use of alternative PSPs and/or link out should understand that some OS or App Store features may not work as users expect. Helpful App Store features — like Report a Problem, Family Sharing, and Ask to Buy — will also not reflect these transactions. Users may have to share their payment information with additional parties, creating more opportunities for bad actors to steal sensitive financial information. And on the App Store, users’ purchase history and subscription management will only reflect transactions made using the App Store In‑App Purchase system. Apple will have less ability to support or refund customers encountering issues, scams, or fraud.

    If you use alternative payment processors and/or link out to complete a transaction for digital goods and services, you’re also responsible for managing payment or billing issues, taxes, and other features currently supported by the App Store system. In addition, you’re responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations related to payment processing, cancellation of transactions, refunds, privacy, etc.

    Storefront options

    You can define which EU markets will use alternative payment processors, links out, and/or the App Store’s In‑App Purchase system. Due to the App Store’s tight integration with In‑App Purchase and to reduce confusion for users, you won’t be able to offer both In‑App Purchase and alternative PSPs and/or link out in your app on the same App Store storefront and platform. If you want to continue using the App Store In‑App Purchase system, you may do so and no action is needed. Information about purchasing on other channels may not be included on your App Store product page.

    User disclosures

    To help users understand whether an app uses alternative PSPs or link outs, the App Store will display an informational banner on the app’s product page and a disclosure in the Information section, and the download confirmation will have an External Purchases notation.

    Apps that include these options must use StoreKit External Purchase APIs to present users with the system-provided disclosure sheet for each transaction, which explains that purchases are made through a source other than Apple.

    Note: For apps running iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, tvOS 18, visionOS 2, and watchOS 11, you’ll need to manually implement the disclosure sheet according to the design specifications provided in the “Requirements for linking out” section below. In a future update of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS, Apple will introduce an API that displays a system-provided disclosure sheet for apps that link out to purchase.

    Requirements for using an alternative PSP within your app

    In addition to enabling the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement, you’ll need to use required StoreKit External Purchase APIs and follow usage requirements designed to help protect people’s privacy and security, prevent scams and fraudulent activity, and maintain the overall quality of the user experience.

    • Alternative PSPs cannot be used on the same EU storefront and platform where the app uses the App Store In‑App Purchase system.
    • The in‑app payment flow you provide:
      • May take users out of your app only to the extent legally required to go to a website or another app to complete the purchase.
      • May not contain any hidden, dormant, or undocumented payment functionality or behavior.

    If your app engages in misleading marketing practices, such as bait and switch, scams, or fraud, it will be removed from the App Store and you may be removed from the Apple Developer Program.

    In-app system disclosure sheet

    When using an alternative payment processor within your app, it will display a system disclosure sheet to customers explaining that purchases are made through a source other than Apple. This is implemented by using the StoreKit External Purchase API.

    This sheet is displayed before:

    • Each payment flow where the user would make a purchase.
    • Each flow to enter payment information, even if not for a specific purchase.

    In addition to using the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement and required StoreKit APIs when communicating and promoting offers to users for other channels to purchase digital goods or services, you’ll need to follow usage requirements designed to help protect people’s privacy and security, prevent scams and fraudulent activity, and maintain the overall quality of the user experience. Follow these usage requirements:

    • Check and confirm that the user is in an EU storefront and can make payments.
    • Provide accurate information regarding the digital goods and services available for purchase on the channel.
    • Don’t include Information about purchasing on other channels on your App Store product page.
    • Ensure that all digital goods and services sold through the link out channel that are marketed as being for use in an app must be available for use in that app.

    If your app engages in misleading marketing practices, such as bait and switch, scams, or fraud, it will be removed from the App Store and you may be removed from the Apple Developer Program.

    Checking eligibility

    Eligibility determines at runtime whether your app can present external purchases. For apps running on iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, tvOS 18, visionOS 2, and watchOS 11, you’ll need to manually implement the eligibility check. In a future OS update, you’ll need to determine eligibility using the ExternalPurchaseCustomLink API.

    To manually check eligibility, follow these steps in an app that has the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement:

    1. Check canMakePayments. If the value is false, the customer can’t authorize payments and eligibility fails; don’t present external purchases. If the value is true, continue to the next step.
    2. Check that the app is running in a storefront where external purchase links are allowed, and where your app supports external purchases. Get the current value of the Storefront API, and check its countryCode value. The allowed regions are: Austria (at), Belgium (be), Bulgaria (bg), Croatia (hr), Cyprus (cy), Czechia (cz), Denmark (dk), Estonia (ee), Finland (fi), France (fr), Germany (de), Greece (gr), Hungary (hu), Ireland (ie), Italy (it), Latvia (lv), Lithuania (lt), Luxembourg (lu), Malta (mt), Netherlands (nl), Poland (pl), Portugal (pt), Romania (ro), Slovakia (sk), Slovenia (si), Spain (es), Sweden (se)
    3. Eligibility succeeds if the current storefront is within the allowed regions, and your app supports external purchases in the same region. Otherwise, eligibility fails.

    In-app disclosure sheet

    When taking users to their destination using an actionable link (i.e., a link that can be tapped, clicked, or scanned), your app must display a disclosure sheet that explains to the user they’ll be transacting with the developer and not Apple. For apps running iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, tvOS 18, visionOS 2, and watchOS 11, you’ll need to manually implement the disclosure sheet according to the design specifications provided by Apple. In a future OS update, the ExternalPurchaseCustomLink API will display a new system-provided disclosure sheet.

    Interaction design guidelines:

    • By tapping the Continue button, users will be directed to the developer’s preferred channel.
    • For apps linking to an external channel, the user may uncheck “Show this next time” and the disclosure sheet will not be displayed before subsequent purchases.
    • For apps linking to an in-app web view, the disclosure sheet will appear only once per session, starting after the user taps “Continue”. A session begins when the app is moved to the device foreground and ends when it’s moved to the background.

    Download disclosure sheet design specifications

    Design resources

    Sign in screen

    Account screen

    App page

    Developers may design the promotion and communication of offers within their apps. Apple is providing the following optional templates for various use cases as a resource for your apps. These templates follow the Plain Button style, as specified in the Human Interface Guidelines, and are localized in 40 locales.

    Purchase template:

    Purchase from the website at www.example.com Link-out iconLink-out icon

    Special offer template:

    For special offers, go to www.example.com Link-out iconLink-out icon

    For a special offer, go to www.example.com Link-out iconLink-out icon

    Lower price template:

    Lower prices offered on www.example.com Link-out iconLink-out icon

    Lower price offered on www.example.com Link-out iconLink-out icon

    Percent off template:

    To get XX% off, go to www.example.com Link-out iconLink-out icon

    Specific price template:

    Buy for $X.XX at www.example.com Link-out iconLink-out icon

    Entitlements and implementation

    You can choose to continue using the App Store In‑App Purchase system or use alternative payment options per EU storefront and platform, which you can update by changing the entitlement election in Xcode by updating the plist with a new app submission.

    Configuring and enabling the entitlement in Xcode

    Once the entitlements are assigned to your account and you’ve configured the App ID in Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles to support this entitlement, you’ll need to update your Xcode project, entitlements plist file, and Info.plist file to list the entitlement and metadata.

    The Entitlement Profile is compatible with and may only be used in apps on EU storefronts on devices running iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS 14.4, tvOS 17.4, visionOS 1.2, and watchOS 10.4.

    Screenshot of the entitlement being enabled in Xcode Screenshot of the entitlement being enabled in Xcode
    1. Enable the entitlement in the Xcode Capability library or on the developer website.
    2. Provide the following values for the entitlements:
      1. Key: com.apple.developer.storekit.external-purchase-link for link-outs. com.apple.developer.storekit.external-purchase for alternative payment service providers.
      2. Type: Boolean
      3. Value: True
    3. Provide the required metadata in your Info.plist file: SKExternalPurchase for payment service providers, and SKExternalPurchaseCustomLinkRegions for linking out.

    On the next build to your device or distribution request in Xcode Organizer, Xcode will detect that the .entitlements file and cached provisioning profile don’t match, and will request a new provisioning profile based on the latest App ID configuration to complete the code signing process.

    1. Select the Info.plist file from the Project Navigator in your OS target.
    2. Provide the following values for this property list key:
      1. Key: SKExternalPurchaseLink
      2. Type: Dictionary with string values
        1. Key: A single ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code value for a country in the European Union.
        2. Value: A single destination URL

    Include a key entry in the dictionary for each EU country code where your app supports linking out. At all times, the destination URLs (i.e., the links to your webpage) that you provide in the Info.plist file in Xcode must match the values in the app binary you submitted to App Review. Make sure that each value is a string that:

    • Uses the HTTPS scheme;
    • Forms a valid, absolute URL;
    • Contains no query parameters; and
    • Contains 1,000 or fewer ASCII characters.

    SKExternalPurchase

    1. Select the Info.plist file from the Project Navigator in your OS target.
    2. Provide the following values for this entitlement:
      1. Key: SKExternalPurchase
      2. Type: Array with string values
        1. Values: One or more ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code values for the European Union countries.

    European Union country codes

    The valid EU country codes are: Austria (at), Belgium (be), Bulgaria (bg), Croatia (hr), Cyprus (cy), Czechia (cz), Denmark (dk), Estonia (ee), Finland (fi), France (fr), Germany (de), Greece (gr), Hungary (hu), Ireland (ie), Italy (it), Latvia (lv), Lithuania (lt), Luxembourg (lu), Malta (mt), Netherlands (nl), Poland (pl), Portugal (pt), Romania (ro), Slovakia (sk), Slovenia (si), Spain (es), Sweden (se)

    At all times, the country codes that you provide in the Info.plist file in Xcode must match the values in the app version you submitted to App Review.

    Implementing required StoreKit External Purchase APIs for linking out

    If your account receives the com.apple.developer.storekit.external-purchase-link entitlement, implement the following to offer an external purchase link:

    • Configure the com.apple.developer.storekit.external-purchase-link entitlement for your app.
    • Configure the SKExternalPurchaseLink property list key.
    • Use the ExternalPurchaseLink typeʼs canOpen property and open() method.
    • StoreKit appends the external purchase token to your webpage’s URL. Use the token to record purchases.
    • From your server, report your customerʼs purchases associated with the tokens by using the External Purchase Server API.

    Implementing required External Purchase APIs for alternative payment processors

    If your account receives the com.apple.developer.storekit.external-purchase entitlement, implement the following to use alternative payment processors within your app:

    • Configure the com.apple.developer.storekit.external-purchase entitlement for your app.
    • Configure the SKExternalPurchase property list key.
    • Use the ExternalPurchase typeʼs canPresent property to determine whether external purchase is available.
    • Call the presentNoticeSheet() method and use the external purchase token you receive from the ExternalPurchase.NoticeResult.continuedWithExternalPurchaseToken(token:) result to record purchases.
    • From your server, report your customerʼs purchases associated with the tokens by using the External Purchase Server API.

    Submitting your app for review in App Store Connect

    When submitting your new app binary for review in App Store Connect, make sure to follow these submission requirements as well as the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU or the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum, the App Review Guidelines, and the Apple Developer Program License Agreement.

    • Your app is properly implemented and tested.
    • If you use an alternative PSP, the name of your payment service provider (PSP) should be included in the review notes. Make sure the PSP is ready to complete transactions from your app. Your PSP must:
      • Meet Level 1 Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance for handling credit and debit card data; and
      • Make a customer service process available for users, including a process to dispute unauthorized transactions, manage subscriptions (if applicable), and request refunds.

    If your submission is incomplete, review times may be delayed or your app may be rejected. Once your app has been reviewed, its status will update in App Store Connect and you’ll be notified.

    Commissions, transaction reporting, and payments

    Commissions

    Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU

    Sales of digital goods and services in the EU using alternative PSPs or Apple’s In-App Purchase system are subject to a commission under the terms of the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU.

    Type Description iOS, iPadOS macOS, tvOS, visionOS, watchOS
    Commission For paid apps, and in-app purchases of digital goods or services, the following rates apply. 17% 27%
    If you're enrolled in the App Store Small Business Program or renew a qualifying auto-renewal subscription beyond one year, the following reduced commission rates apply. 10% 12%
    If you're enrolled in the Apple Video Partner Program or News Partner Program, the following reduced commission rates apply. The App Store payment processing fee of 3% also applies. 10% 12%
    Payment processing fee When using the App Store payment processing and related commerce services for in-app purchases, the following fees apply. This fee also applies to all paid apps. 3% 3%
    Core Technology Fee For iOS and iPadOs apps distributed on the App Store, Web Distribution, and/or an alternative app marketplace that reach significant scale, you’ll pay for each first annual install over 1 million first annual installs. For more details, view documentation. €0.50 No fee

    Linking out to purchase. If your app communicates and promotes offers for end users available at a distribution channel of your choice, pay an initial acquisition fee and an ongoing store services fee. This includes any adjustments for refunds, reversals and chargebacks.

    Type Description Rate
    Initial acquisition fee For sales of digital goods and services, made on any platform, that occur within a 12-month period after an initial install, the following rates apply. 5%
    Store services fee For sales of digital goods and services, made on any platform, that occur within a fixed 12-month period from the date of an install, including app updates and reinstalls, the following rates apply. 10%
    If you're an App Store Small Business Program participant or your auto-renewal subscription is beyond one year, the store services fee is reduced to the following rate. 5%

    StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum

    Linking out to purchase. If your app communicates and promotes offers for end users at a distribution channel of your choice, pay an initial acquisition fee and an ongoing store services fee. This includes any adjustments for refunds, reversals and chargebacks.

    Type Description Rate
    Initial acquisition fee For sales of digital goods and services, made on any platform, that occur within a 12-month period after an initial install, the following rates apply. 5%
    Store services fee For sales of digital goods and services, made on any platform, that occur within a fixed 12-month period from the date of an install, including app updates and reinstalls, the following rates apply. 20%
    If you're an App Store Small Business Program participant or your auto-renewal subscription is beyond one year, the store services fee is reduced to the following rate. 7%

    For auto-renewable subscriptions, the initial acquisition fee classifies a transaction as a sale occurring within a 12-month period after an initial install, including each auto-renewal within the 12-month period. For the store services fee, a transaction is classified as a sale occurring within a fixed 12-month window after an install, reinstall, or update, including each subsequent renewal within the fixed 12-month window. After a fixed 12-month window ends, the next install, reinstall, or update starts another 12-month window during which the fee will apply to each subscription sale and/or auto-renewal occurring during that window. Renewals of auto-renewing subscriptions that were initiated before the user installed the app with the link out are not classified as transactions for either the initial acquisition fee or the store services fee.

    Taxes

    These commission rates apply to all prices payable by each user minus any transaction taxes charged by the app. You are responsible for the collection and remittance of any applicable taxes for sales processed by an alternative payment provider. For additional details, view App Store Connect Help.

    Transaction reporting

    If your app adopts the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement, you’re required to use the External Purchase Server API to report transactions to Apple for commission calculation and collection purposes. Required reporting includes refunds, corrections, renewals, one-time purchases, and transactions which didn’t result in a purchase.

    If your app is linking out (Communicating and promoting offers for digital goods or services at a distribution channel of your choice) using the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement, you’re required to send a report to Apple recording all sales of digital goods and services made on any platform. You need to provide this report monthly, within 15 calendar days following the end of Apple’s fiscal month. In the fall, when the External Purchase Server API is updated, you’ll be required to use the API to send reports.

    Payments

    You’ll receive a monthly invoice based on the reporting for commissionable transactions for digital goods and services for which commission is owed. Transactions will be aggregated and commissions calculated by Apple by the 15th of the following month. You’ll need to provide payment within 30 days of receiving the invoice. For additional details, view App Store Connect Help.

    Please note that Apple has audit rights pursuant to the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU and StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum. This will allow Apple to review the accuracy of your record of digital transactions as a result of the entitlement, ensuring the appropriate commission has been paid to Apple. Late payments accrue interest and nonpayment may result in the offset of App Store In‑App Purchase proceeds owed to you, removal of the app from the App Store, or removal from the Apple Developer Program.

    Supporting customers

    If your app adopts either of these entitlements, it’s your responsibility to provide timely support to customers if questions or issues arise. Apple won’t be able to assist customers with refunds, purchase history, subscription management, and other issues encountered when purchasing digital goods and services. You’ll be responsible for addressing these issues with customers directly.

    Q&A

    Can I support alternative payment service providers for a single EU country only, and use the App Store In‑App Purchases system for the rest of Europe and the world?

    Yes. You may choose which EU storefronts use alternative PSP, link out, and the App Store In‑App Purchase system. For more information, see SKExternalPurchase. Due to the App Store’s tight integration with In‑App Purchase, and to reduce confusion for users, you may not offer both In‑App Purchase and alternative PSPs to users in your app on the same App Store storefront.

    If a customer purchases a subscription using the App Store In‑App Purchase system, and the next version of the app uses an alternative payment processor, how is the customer billed for subscription renewals?

    Subscriptions will continue to renew on the payment processing system used when the subscription started. In this example, the customer’s subscription would continue to use the App Store In‑App Purchase system until the subscription becomes inactive or the customer makes a new selection. You shouldn’t merchandize the same subscription to a user who already subscribed on the App Store In‑App Purchase system, as they’ll be double charged for the same service.

    If I start using an alternative payment processor instead of the App Store In‑App Purchase system, will my users be charged twice for their subscriptions or in‑app purchases?

    Subscriptions will continue to renew on the payment system where the subscription originated. When customers update their app to the version that supports alternative payment service providers or link out, one-time purchases from that point forward occur on alternative payment processors and not on the App Store In‑App Purchase system.

    If I previously offered digital goods and services using App Store payment processing and start using alternative payment processing and/or link out, how will I be charged?

    Due to the App Store’s tight integration with In-App Purchase, and to reduce confusion for users, developers may not offer both In-App Purchase and alternative PSPs and/or link out to purchase to users in their App Store app on the same storefront. Once you stop offering In-App Purchases to users and adopt an alternative PSP and/or link out, you may continue to earn revenue from legacy auto-renewing subscriptions, which will continue to be charged the appropriate commission and App Store payment processing fee. Transactions made via alternative PSP will be charged the appropriate commission, and those made via ExternalPurchaseCustomLinkRegions will be charged the initial acquisition fee and store services fee.

    Can customers still use the App Store In‑App Purchase system if they’re running earlier OS versions or haven’t updated my app to the latest version that supports alternative payment options?

    Anyone running an OS version earlier than iOS 17.4 or an earlier version of your app that doesn’t support alternative payment options can keep using the App Store In‑App Purchase system at the reduced commission rate, plus the payment processing fee. Once a customer updates to iOS 17.4 and the latest app version, they can take advantage of the new payment options. Please note that apps can’t use the App Store In‑App Purchase system and alternative payment options in the same storefront and OS (including the same OS version and app version) at the same time.

    Will I need to pay an initial acquisition fee or store services fee on subscriptions that began before I added the link out entitlement to my app?

    No, auto-renewals of subscriptions that began before you include the link out entitlement in your app do not qualify for an initial acquisition fee or store services fee. If any of those existing subscribers begin a new subscription after you’ve added the link out entitlement, then the initial acquisition and/or store services fees will apply, as long as the purchases and/or renewals occur within a fixed 12-month period after an install, reinstall, or update.

    How long do I need to pay the store services fee on my auto-renewable subscription plans?

    Once a user installs, reinstalls, or updates to a version of your app with the link out entitlement, the store services fee applies to all new subscription sales and renewals occurring within 12 months of that install, reinstall, or update. If the user doesn’t install, reinstall, or update your app with the entitlement again after 12 months, then the store services fee will expire. If the user installs, reinstalls, or updates your app again after the initial fixed 12-month window had ended, then another fixed 12-month window will start and the fee will apply again to each subscription sale and/or auto-renewal occurring during that new window.