Stripe Launches iOS Payment Workaround to Help Developers Avoid Apple’s App Store Commission
May 1, 2025 — Tech Industry News — Stripe has unveiled a new guide designed to help iOS developers sidestep Apple’s in-app purchase fees, following a significant legal setback for Apple in its ongoing antitrust battle.
The update came swiftly after a federal court ruling on April 30 criticized Apple for failing to comply with a previous injunction that required it to allow external payment options in iOS apps. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers condemned Apple’s use of “scare screens” to discourage users from paying developers outside the App Store and ordered immediate policy changes.
Stripe Offers a Developer-Friendly Alternative
Responding quickly, Stripe product manager Michael Luo shared a “quick guide” on X (formerly Twitter) that walks developers through integrating Stripe Checkout for external payments. This allows developers to embed a link in their app directing users to a secure, Stripe-hosted payment page, effectively bypassing Apple’s traditional fee structure.
Lower Fees, Greater Flexibility
While Stripe’s solution requires developers to create and maintain a separate checkout flow, it comes with significant savings. Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, far lower than Apple’s 30% fee for in-app purchases—or even the reduced 15% rate available to small developers or subscription apps in their second year.
Developers eager to capitalize on the new option have already embraced Stripe’s announcement. The post has garnered thousands of likes on X, showing strong community support.
Industry Leaders Back the Move
Longtime Apple critic David Heinemeier Hansson, co-creator of Ruby on Rails and co-owner of 37Signals (developer of Basecamp and HEY), praised Stripe’s move. Hansson has clashed with Apple in the past over its in-app purchase rules, especially when HEY’s apps were rejected for not using Apple’s payment system.
“Apple’s courtroom loss is a game-changer for app developers,” Hansson wrote. “Entire business models that were previously unviable can now flourish.”
With Stripe now offering a viable and legal route around Apple’s payment system, the balance of power in the iOS ecosystem may be shifting—giving developers more control over how they monetize their apps.
