It is clear that major app developers are not using the 'insertion of links to external billing systems' that Apple introduced in the App Store at all
Apple only allows apps offered in the United States to insert links to billing systems other than in-app purchases. This attracted a lot of attention when it was announced, as it allows apps to bypass Apple's payment system. However, it has become clear that major app developers believe that inserting links to external billing systems does not lead to substantial savings.
Apple Says No Major App Developers Accept New Outside Payments - Bloomberg
Third-party payments through the App Store have no savings for developers
https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/05/11/large-us-developers-are-avoiding-third-party-app-store-alternate-payment-plans
Apple was sued by Epic Games in August 2020. In response to this lawsuit, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled in September 2021 that the App Store must accept payment methods other than Apple's.
In the lawsuit between Apple and Epic Games, the App Store must accept payment methods other than Apple's, but some say it's a victory for Apple - GIGAZINE
As a remedy to this ruling, Apple updated its App Store guidelines in January 2024 to allow apps to include 'links to payment systems other than in-app purchases.' However, Apple still requires apps to pay a fee for payments made through external systems, and links to external systems are limited to apps targeted at the U.S. market.
Apple finally allows iPhone apps to 'insert links to external billing systems,' but fees apply - GIGAZINE
However, the practice of inserting links to external systems has received little attention from app developers, as was revealed during a hearing in California on the legal battle between Apple and Epic Games.
According to an Apple executive who attended the hearing, Apple has an estimated 65,000 developers of apps that offer in-app purchases. However, at the time of writing, only 38 app developers had applied to use the 'Insert Links to External Purchasing Systems' program.
The reason why external billing system link insertion is not used is clear: 27% of sales is taken as a commission. In addition, app developers must also pay payment processing fees. In other words, if app developers use external billing system link insertion, they will have to pay a commission that exceeds the 30% of sales that they would have to pay if they used the App Store payment system.
Therefore, Epic Games claims that Apple's revision of the App Store guidelines in January 2024 was 'not a meaningful change.' Judge Rogers, who presided over the court battle between Apple and Epic Games, also severely criticized Apple's program to insert links to external payment systems.
According to Alex Roman, Apple's vice president of finance, who attended the hearing, none of the 38 app developers who applied to join the program were major app developers.
Yonatan Evan, an attorney for Epic Games, asked Roman if there was evidence to support Apple's claim that Apple's link to an external payment system would 'reduce the burden on app users (lower app prices).' Judge Rogers responded, 'I'm looking for data, but it seems to me that Apple has made a number of decisions (regarding linking to an external payment system) without supporting data.'
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