If an app sells digital content, features, or subscriptions, it must use Apple's built-in payment system, and Apple collects a commission on those transactions. Developers cannot direct users to other websites or payment methods for digital purchases.
This analysis describes what Apple's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision determines how digital goods are purchased inside apps on Apple devices, affecting the price consumers pay and the payment options available to them, since Apple's commission is typically passed on in pricing.
Interpretive note: The scope of IAP requirements in the EU is subject to ongoing Digital Markets Act enforcement proceedings and may differ from the global baseline described in the guidelines.
The updated guidelines state that developers must ensure kids receive age-appropriate experiences within their apps and must remove user-generated content that violates the guidelines, terms of service, or community standards. Under the revised policy, if Apple identifies policy-violating content, the developer will be asked to remove it and provide a compliance improvement plan. Based on the developer's response, the app may be removed from the App Store until compliance is demonstrated. This establishes a formal escalation pathway where developer inaction or inadequate remediation can result in app suspension or removal.
View change record →Severity downgraded from high to medium, scope expanded to explicitly include cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency wallets as prohibited unlock mechanisms, and positive phrasing added about permitted use of in-app purchase.
View full change record →Consumers purchasing digital content, subscriptions, or in-app features on Apple devices must do so through Apple's payment system; developers are prohibited from directing users to alternative payment methods that might offer lower prices or different terms.
How other platforms handle this
Users in certain regions may be required to pay local taxes, which will be calculated and added to the total cost of a purchase.
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"Apps may use in-app purchase to sell and sell services in your app. Apps must not use their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality, such as license keys, augmented reality markers, QR codes, cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency wallets, and so on. Apps and their metadata may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase.Excerpt from Apple's App Store Review Guidelines
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision is under active regulatory scrutiny under the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), enforced by the European Commission, which has required Apple to permit alternative payment mechanisms and app distribution in the …
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This provision determines how digital goods are purchased inside apps on Apple devices, affecting the price consumers pay and the payment options available to them, since Apple's commission is typically passed on in pricing.
Consumers purchasing digital content, subscriptions, or in-app features on Apple devices must do so through Apple's payment system; developers are prohibited from directing users to alternative payment methods that might offer lower prices or different terms.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 230 platforms. See the full comparison.
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