Apple Announces Significant Updates to Its Compliance Plan the digital markets law (DMA) of the European Union, a set of regulations designed to encourage competition and protect consumers in the digital environment.
These updates, which will go into effect this fall, are aimed specifically at developers. with apps available in EU stores within the App Store and affect those who use the StoreKit functionality for external purchase links, also known as the “external purchase link right.”
Background: Why these updates? The European Commission, with its recent Digital Markets Act, has imposed new rules on big tech platforms like Apple, to prevent monopolistic practices and ensure fair competition. Part of these rules require Apple to allow developers to offer users payment options outside the App Store ecosystemwhich includes links to alternative stores, external websites or even other apps. In response, Apple had to change its platform terms to comply with these requirements in the European Union.
These are the changes for developers if they use external purchase links
In simple terms, it is a function that allows developers to include links in their apps that redirect users to external platforms where they can make transactions, whether it’s buying subscriptions, digital products or services offered by the app. Until now, Apple strictly limited these practices, requiring that all transactions be made within the app through its own payment system. However, new European regulations have forced Apple to relax these restrictions, the main changes of which are as follows:
Promotion and communication of offers in external destinations. With the new terms, developers now have the freedom to communicate and promote purchase offers in any external destination they choose. This means that you can direct users to an external website, another app store, or even another app, where they can make the purchase. This destination can be accessible outside the app, or also inside the app via a web view (a kind of built-in browser
Design and execution of in-app promotions. It’s no longer necessary to limit offer information to what’s available exclusively in the app. You can now design and execute promotional communications that include details about subscription prices or other offers, whether in or out of the app. For example, as a developer, you can now explain how users can subscribe to a service via an external website, as long as the information provided is accurate and clear.
Interactive links without restrictions. Another new feature is the ability to include interactive links that can be “touched”, clicked or scanned (via a QR code for example), to take users directly to their shopping destination. Previously, these types of links were restricted, but now developers can use any number of URLs, without the need to declare them in the app’s Info.plist file. Additionally, the inclusion of additional parameters, redirects, and intermediate links leading to specific landing pages is allowed.
Updated Terms of Business. Alongside these new features, Apple has introduced significant changes to the terms of trade for apps that use this external linking feature in the EU. It’s crucial to understand these new terms, as they could have a direct impact on your earnings as a developer:
- Reduced commissions: If you decide to continue using Apple’s in-app purchasing system, you will now be charged a reduced fee of 10% or 17% (depending on your developer profile and transaction type), instead of the standard fee. This discount also applies if you use another payment service provider (PSP) to make in-app transactions.
- Initial acquisition costs: If you choose to redirect users to an external channel (i.e.like a website)Apple will charge you a 5% fee on all sales of digital goods and services made within 12 months of the user’s initial installation of the app. This fee reflects the value Apple believes the App Store provides by connecting developers with customers in the EU.
- In-store service fees: In addition to the initial acquisition fee, you will be charged an additional 10% fee on all sales made within a fixed 12-month period from the time the app was installed, including updates and reinstalls. This cost is justified as compensation for the ongoing services Apple provides, such as app distribution, security and trust, rediscovery and re-engagement tools, and more. For developers who are part of the App Store Small Business program or have subscriptions that renew automatically after the first year, this fee will be even lower.
Developer Requirements and Responsibilities
By enabling these external links, you, as a developer, also take on new responsibilities to ensure compliance with Apple’s privacy and security standards. The main requirements you need to ensure in your app are:
- Eligibility Check: You will need to implement a system that checks if the user is in an EU store where external purchase links are allowed and if the app supports external purchases in that region.
- Transparency in communication: It is essential that the information about the digital products or services you offer is accurate. Additionally, any purchases made through the external link must be available for use in the app.
- In-App Disclosure Sheet: When a user is redirected to an external destination via a link, your app must display a “disclosure card” explaining that the transaction will be with the developer, not Apple. This step is required for apps running on the latest versions of Apple’s operating systems (i.e.OS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, tvOS 18, visionOS 2, watchOS 11).
Preparing for change: what to do now?
If you’re an app developer in the EU, it’s essential that you start preparing for these changes before they come into effect this fall. The key steps we recommend you take are:
- Review and accept the new addendum: To use the new features, your Apple Developer Program account holder will need to accept one of the available addendums when they are released in the fall. This will grant your account the permissions needed to implement external links and other alternative payment options.
- Assess the financial impact: Use tools provided by Apple, such as the Fee Calculator, to assess the impact of these new fees on your revenue and adjust your pricing strategy accordingly.
- Implement eligibility checks: Make sure your app can properly check whether a user can make external purchases based on their region. This may require updates to your app code to accommodate new APIs that Apple will make available.
- Design the disclosure sheet: Plan how the disclosure sheet will appear in your app when users are redirected to an external platform. Apple will provide templates and design guides that you can follow to meet this requirement.
Better rates and more options
Apple’s new terms for using external purchase links in the European Union mark a significant change in How Developers Can Manage and Promote Their Digital Products. While they offer more flexibility, they also introduce better rates for external links and responsibilities that each developer must understand and manage.
All these changes will arrive in the fall in the form of updates to the next operating systems, but it never hurts. consult the key information offered by Apple, for example about basic technology fees. All news is also explained on Apple’s developer news page.
Stay informed and make sure your app is ready for these changes, as per the These new regulations will be essential to continue operating in the European Union App StoreAdapting to these regulations is not only essential to comply with digital markets law, but also to make the most of the new opportunities that these conditions may offer.
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Pictures | Photos by ilgmyzin, Brett Jordan, Mariia Shalabaieva, Vojtech Bruzek, shore
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