Mobile Monetization

iOS, Apple Payments and Commissions: How to Legally Bypass the 30% with Stripe

A landmark court decision changes the game for iOS app developers: no longer required to use Apple's in-app payments. Stripe immediately responds with a concrete solution to recover up to 90% in margins. Here's what you need to know and how to implement it with Capacitor.

May 5, 2025

For years, iOS developers have been dealing with an invisible tax: the infamous 30% Apple commission on in-app purchases. An imposed, locked model, difficult to bypass... until now.

The game has changed. And Stripe was quick to respond.

A court ruling that opens a breach

On April 30, 2025, the American justice system decided on the Apple vs Epic case. The verdict is clear: Apple can no longer prohibit links to external payment solutions in iOS apps.

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers criticized Apple for not complying with a previous injunction, demanding immediate changes. In clear terms: developers can now redirect users to a payment outside the App Store... without risking their application's blockage.

Stripe steps in with a turnkey solution

The following day, Stripe released comprehensive documentation to help iOS developers integrate a 100% compliant external payment link, based on Stripe Checkout.

The principle is simple:
→ The user clicks on a link or button in the app
→ They are redirected to a secure payment page hosted by Stripe
→ They make their purchase outside the Apple environment, without going through In-App Purchase

Result: no more Apple commission. Stripe charges only 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

An immediate competitive advantage

This change opens the door to new business models. Until now, many apps (subscriptions, digital content, training, SaaS...) saw their profitability slashed by Apple's commission. Now, they can:

  • Reduce their transaction costs

  • Regain control over their conversion funnel

  • Implement a multichannel payment strategy (web, mobile, app)

  • Collect customer emails at the time of payment (which Apple prohibits)

What this specifically means for you

Are you an iOS developer or app publisher? Here's what you can do right now:

  1. Read the Stripe documentation published on their official website

  2. Update your application to incorporate a link to a Stripe Checkout page

  3. Optimize your UX to ensure a smooth transition between the app and the payment page

  4. Inform Apple of your compliance with the court decision, if necessary

💡 Note: Apple still displays "scare screens" when users leave the app for an external payment. These are legal but criticized. It's advised to accompany your users with reassuring and clear messages.

In summary

The door is finally open. Thanks to Stripe, you can bypass Apple's commission legally, without compromising security or user experience. It's a rare opportunity: seize it.

Need to integrate Stripe Checkout into your iOS app?
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