Apple Softens App Store Payment Rules After Court Decision, Spotify Leads the Way

Following a federal court ruling that found Apple violated a previous injunction, the tech giant has updated its App Store payment policies.

Under the new guidelines, developers in the US can now add direct links in their iOS apps to external payment platforms, letting users complete purchases outside Apple’s in-app system.

This change follows US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’ finding that Apple had “willfully” ignored a 2021 court order by introducing obstacles like warning screens and extra fees, which discouraged developers from steering users to alternative payment methods. The judge ruled these tactics undermined the injunction’s goal of giving developers more control over payment options.

Apple has stated it will comply with the court order but plans to appeal, expressing “strong disagreement” with the contempt ruling and aiming to reverse it in a higher court.

Spotify quickly became one of the first major apps to implement the updated policy. On May 3, the streaming service released an app update for US users featuring clear pricing and direct links to external payment pages, bypassing Apple’s payment system.

Spotify called the update a victory for “consumers, artists, creators, and authors,” marking progress toward a fairer environment for developers.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, whose company originally filed the 2021 lawsuit against Apple, praised Spotify’s action as a breakthrough. He congratulated Spotify for exercising its court-granted right to conduct digital commerce without Apple’s interference or the so-called “Apple Tax.”

Epic’s legal challenge centered on Apple’s tight grip over app distribution and in-app purchases on iOS devices. While the judge did not label Apple a monopoly, she ordered the company to allow developers to link to external payment options. Apple initially responded by imposing a 27% commission on such transactions and requiring warning messages—actions later ruled as non-compliant.

The recent ruling forces Apple to remove the 27% commission and revise its guidelines to meet the court’s requirements. Reports indicate Apple’s updated policy now permits external links without added fees, although full details on enforcement remain unclear.

This update comes ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June, where the company is expected to focus heavily on developer relations. Analysts note that Apple is balancing the need to maintain developer trust while protecting a services segment that accounts for over a quarter of its revenue.

Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Creative Strategies, pointed out that revenue from subscriptions, iCloud, and other services remains significant, so this shift doesn’t spell the end of the App Store as a major revenue source for Apple. She also suggested that allowing external payments could help Apple avoid further regulatory pressure while preserving its key income streams.

Sweeney compared the ruling to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which requires companies like Apple to open their platforms to more competition. He said, “Apple’s 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the United States as they are in Europe.”

Despite these changes, the App Store continues to be vital for smaller developers. Milanesi noted that for many without the scale of Spotify or Epic, it remains one of the most cost-effective ways to reach a global audience.

Most apps still generate revenue through ads or subscriptions, with Apple taking a cut, even as larger developers explore alternative monetisation paths.

The outcome of Apple’s ongoing appeal at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will likely determine the extent to which the company must ease its control over app distribution and payments. Meanwhile, developers now have greater flexibility to test new business models, and Apple faces mounting pressure to balance user choice with business growth.