Question 1

What's the difference between linking out and using an alternative in-app payment?

Accepted Answer

You have two ways to offer purchases outside the app stores' built-in billing systems. You can use an external link to send people from your app to your website to pay. Or, you can use an alternative in-app payment to put a third-party payment form (like Stripe) right in your app. The rules, fees, and user experience for each are completely different.

Question 2

Can you just add a link to your website, or do you have to enroll in a program?

Accepted Answer

You have to enroll in a specific program to get permission. Adding a link to your website for purchases without enrolling in one of the official programs will get your app rejected. For most programs outside the US, you'll need to apply for and be granted a special entitlement from Apple or Google before your app can go live.

Question 3

Do you have to offer both native IAP and an external option?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the program. For Apple's program in Japan (MSCA), you're required to show both side-by-side. For Google's User Choice Billing (UCB), the whole point is to give your users a choice. But for Apple's Reader App program and its South Korea program, you can't offer both; you have to pick one. You should always check the rules for the specific program you're enrolling in.

Question 4

What is an entitlement and when do you need one?

Accepted Answer

Think of an entitlement as a special permission slip from Apple or Google that you add to your app's code. It unlocks the ability to use these alternative payment features. You'll need to apply for and get an entitlement for most programs outside the US, like the one for dating apps in the Netherlands or for music streaming apps in the EEA.

Question 5

How do you show the right payment options in different countries?

Accepted Answer

You're responsible for showing the correct payment UI to the right people. Your app will need to check the device's storefront ID to figure out what country a person is in, then show the payment flow that's allowed in that region. You can't show an external purchase link to someone in a country where it's not allowed.

Question 6

What is the Core Technology Fee (CTF) in the EU and Japan?

Accepted Answer

The Core Technology Fee is a fee Apple charges on high-volume apps in certain regions. In the EU, if you opt into the new business terms, you'll pay 0.50 euros for each new install over 1 million in a year. This fee hits you whether your app is on the App Store or an alternative marketplace. It can be a huge, unexpected cost for popular free apps, so you need to do the math.

Question 7

For Apple's Reader Apps program, what counts as account management?

Accepted Answer

Your link inside a Reader App has to be for account management only, like signing up or logging in. The link text can't have any pricing, and it has to look like a standard, underlined web link, not a button. Crucially, the link has to open in the phone's default browser, not a webview inside your app.

Question 8

Why did your app get rejected for an external link, even if you followed the rules?

Accepted Answer

It's a common headache. The usual suspects are: 1. You didn't use the required disclosure sheet. Before you send someone to an external link, you must show the exact, un-editable pop-up that Apple provides. 2. Your link looked like a button. For some programs, like Reader Apps, the link has to be plain blue, underlined text. 3. The reviewer made a mistake. App Review isn't always consistent. If you're sure you're compliant, you can appeal the rejection and clearly state which program and guidelines you're following.

Question 9

What's the difference between Google's User Choice Billing (UCB) and the EEA-only Alternative Billing Only program?

Accepted Answer

User Choice Billing (UCB), available in many countries, means you offer another billing system next to Google Play Billing, giving your users a choice. Your service fee is cut by 4 percent (e.g., from 15 percent to 11 percent). The EEA-only Alternative Billing Only program lets you rip out Google Play Billing completely and use only your own system. Your service fee is cut by 3 percent (e.g., from 15 percent to 12 percent).

Question 10

What are the Initial Acquisition and Ongoing Services fees for Google's EEA external offers?

Accepted Answer

It's a confusing, two-part fee. For the first two years after someone installs your app, you pay an Initial Acquisition Fee on any purchases they make on your website (5 percent for subscriptions, 10 percent for anything else). After two years, that fee goes away, and you start paying a lower Ongoing Services Fee (7 percent for subscriptions, 17 percent for other items) for as long as that person keeps using your app.

Question 11

How do you get purchase information from your website back to your app?

Accepted Answer

When a purchase happens on your website, your payment processor (like Stripe) tells your server. Your server then needs to update that user's account to grant them their new entitlement. When they open your app, the app checks with your server to see what they have access to and unlocks the right features. This is the server-side logic that RevenueCat handles for you automatically.

Question 12

Do you have to report sales you make outside the app stores?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For every one of these programs, you have to report all your sales to Apple or Google. They use these reports to calculate and send you a bill for their commission. If you don't report and pay, your app can be removed from the store, or your whole developer account can be terminated.

The Definitive Guide to App Store External Purchase Policies

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Apple App Store external purchases guidelines

Google Play Store external purchases guideline

Frequently asked questions

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