Apple's Requirements for Linkout-Enabled Regions

Last updated: 4 March 2026

Disclaimer: This document is a high-level summary of publicly available materials as of the date of writing. Google & Apple may modify the program rules or requirements from time to time. This summary is provided by us for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not replace or override Google’s or Apple's official policies or program documentation. Developers should rely on Google’s and Apple's official materials as the controlling source of information.

Region/Entitlement /Addendum	Eligible apps	What’s allowed	Apple's Fees on external purchases	Notes and references
United States 🇺🇸 (No Entitlement required)	All app categories in the US App Store (including games)	Can include external payment links in-app to a web checkout	0% (may change based on Apple's appeal outcome)	App Store Review Guidelines (United States)
Japan 🇯🇵 StoreKit External Purchases or Offers Entitlement	All iOS apps on Japan App Store (all categories) with required StoreKit External Purchases or Offers Entitlement	App-to-web purchases via Out-of-App Offers (external links to web checkout) Alternative in-app payments via Alternative Payment Processing (non-Apple PSPs) In-app display of prices and promotions for web purchases Apple IAP and external payment options must coexist and be shown side-by-side	10% -15% 15% on Out-of-App offers made within 7 days of the link tap; 10% reduced fee for some cases	Payment options on the App Store in Japan
EU/EEA 🇪🇺 Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU ** (changes being planned)	All apps on an EU or EEA storefront opted-in to the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU	External purchases or payments allowed via link-out or third-party payment processing	Up to 15% + €0.50 per install Including: 0%-2% Initial Acquisition fee +5%-13% Store services fee (depending on optional store services) +€0.50 Core Technology Fee per first annual install over 1M (plus reduced fee on Apple IAP)	Communication and promotion of offers on the App Store in the EU
EU/EEA 🇪🇺 StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) ** (changes being planned)	All apps on an EU or EEA storefront opted-in to the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement for EU storefronts	External purchases or payments allowed via link-out or third-party payment processing	Up to 20% Including: 0%-2% Initial Acquisition fee +5%-13% Store services fee (depending on optional store services) +5% Core Technology Commission (CTC)	Communication and promotion of offers on the App Store in the EU
Netherlands 🇳🇱 StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement	Dating apps exclusive to the Netherlands storefront	External link to web purchase are allowed alongside Apple IAP	Standard App Store commission minus 3% (e.g. 27% instead of 30%, 12% instead of 15% for small business/long‑running subs)	Distributing dating apps in the Netherlands
Global 🌐 External Link Account Entitlement	‘Reader’ apps whose primary purpose is providing magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, or video, and that let users sign in to access previously-purchased content	Can include one link to your website for account creation and management. The link must open in a browser. You cannot offer IAP in the same app	0%	Distributing reader apps with a link to your website
For in-app payment, not linkout South Korea 🇰🇷 StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement	All apps distributed solely on the South Korea App Store using a qualifying third‑party PSP	Alternate in-app payment providers allowed (no Apple IAP required). You cannot offer IAP in the same app	26%	Distributing apps using a third‑party payment provider in South Korea

** Both the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU and the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum grant developers the entitlement to communicate and promote external offers, such as steering users to an outside website or alternative app marketplace to make a purchase.

However, they differ significantly in their overall scope and how they calculate fees for Apple's technology:

1. Scope of the Agreements

• Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU: This is a broader agreement that allows for two ways to offer digital goods or services. In addition to allowing external linkouts, it overhauls the terms for using the native App Store In-App Purchase (IAP) system. If you use App Store IAP under these terms, you pay a reduced commission of either 10% or 17%, plus a separate 3% payment processing fee.

• StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum: This agreement is more narrowly focused specifically on granting the ability to communicate and promote external offers, and it outlines the new business terms solely for those external transactions.

2. Core Technology Fee vs. Core Technology Commission While both addendums charge an identical "Initial acquisition fee" (0% to 2%) and "Store services fee" (5% to 13%) on external sales, they diverge on how they charge for Apple's core technology:

• Alternative Terms Addendum: Charges a Core Technology Fee (CTF). This is a flat fee of €0.50 for each first annual install per year, which only applies after an app exceeds 1 million first annual installs (the first million are free).

• StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum: Charges a Core Technology Commission (CTC). Instead of a flat per-install fee, this is a 5% commission on all sales of digital goods or services that occur within a 12-month period from the date of an install, update, or reinstall.