30% off everything
Spotify seizes the day after Apple is forced to allow external payments
Apple quickly approved updated app with payment links, prices, and promotions.
Kevin Purdy
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May 2, 2025 11:14 am
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Credit:
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Credit:
NurPhoto via Getty Images
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After a federal court issued a scathing order Wednesday night that found Apple in "willful violation" of an injunction meant to allow iOS apps to provide alternate payment options, app developers are capitalizing on the moment. Spotify may be the quickest of them all.
Less than 24 hours after District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found that Apple had sought to thwart a 2021 injunction and engaged in an "obvious cover-up" around its actions, Spotify announced in a blog post that it had submitted an updated app to Apple. The updated app can show specific plan prices, link out to Spotify's website for plan changes and purchases that avoid Apple's 30 percent commission on in-app purchases, and display promotional offers, all of which were disallowed under Apple's prior App Store rules.
Spotify's post adds that Apple's newly court-enforced policy "opens the door to other seamless buying opportunities that will directly benefit creators (think easy-to-purchase audiobooks)." Spotify posted on X (formerly Twitter) Friday morning that the updated app was approved by Apple. Apple made substantial modifications to its App Review Guidelines on Friday and emailed registered developers regarding the changes.
Epic's alternative payment options for the iOS version of Fortnite sparked a multi-year antitrust dispute that ultimately resulted in a 2021 injunction at the heart of Apple's sudden changes. While Epic ultimately lost on most of its arguments, the District Court for Northern California demanded that Apple loosen its restrictions on outside payment options and price messaging. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney posted that Fortnite would return to Apple's iOS App Store "next week."
Payment processor Stripe has put together a guide on how iOS developers can use it to "Link out for in-app purchases." Patreon, the creator patronage app, told The Verge that it was working on an app update and that it was "a huge moment for creators and their businesses," allowing "creators to get paid without giving Apple 30 percent."
Judge Gonzalez Rogers' ruling, which found that Apple had "willfully" disregarded the 2021 injunction, noted that the case had been referred to the District Attorney for Northern California "to investigate whether criminal contempt proceedings are appropriate." Apple told Ars and other outlets that it strongly disagreed with the decision but would comply and appeal.
Kevin Purdy
Senior Technology Reporter
Kevin Purdy
Senior Technology Reporter
Kevin is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering open-source software, PC gaming, home automation, repairability, e-bikes, and tech history. He has previously worked at Lifehacker, Wirecutter, iFixit, and Carbon Switch.
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