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:
Read the Stripe documentation published on their official website
Update your application to incorporate a link to a Stripe Checkout page
Optimize your UX to ensure a smooth transition between the app and the payment page
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?
I can support you from A to Z: payment funnel design, technical integration, compliance, optimization. Let's talk.
