Payment processing platform Stripe just added a way for iOS developers to accept payments by linking outside their apps, dodging Apple’s commission fees.
The move comes after a landmark ruling on Wednesday in the Epic v. Apple antitrust case. Apple can no longer charge developers 27 percent fees on purchases made outside apps, and it cannot dictate how developers point users to buy things elsewhere.
Stripe product manager Michael Luo demoed how it works on X, and a guide shows developers how to accept transactions outside an app using Stripe Checkout. In the sample video, you can see someone preparing to buy digital fruit with in-app currency, but instead of showing a transaction page inside the app, it launches Safari and takes users straight to a “buy now” page.
Other apps are also beginning to launch new updates that link to the web for in-app purchases, allowing the developers to skirt Apple’s commissions. Patreon announced yesterday that it will update its app so creators can accept payments outside Apple’s payment system. On Friday morning, Spotify said it’s letting users subscribe to premium plans from links inside its iOS app.
