## Stripe Enables iOS Developers to Bypass Apple’s Payment System Following Antitrust Ruling
Payment processing giant Stripe has unveiled a new feature that allows iOS developers to accept payments outside of their apps, effectively circumventing Apple’s controversial commission fees. This move follows a landmark ruling in the *Epic v. Apple* antitrust case, which loosened Apple’s grip on in-app payment systems and the ability of developers to direct users to alternative purchase methods.
The ruling prohibits Apple from charging developers fees on purchases made outside of the app (previously as high as 27%) and restricts the company’s ability to dictate how developers inform users about alternative purchasing options. Stripe’s new functionality leverages this ruling by providing a seamless way for developers to guide users to external payment pages.
Stripe product manager Michael Luo demonstrated the feature on X (formerly Twitter), and detailed documentation is available for developers. The process involves using Stripe Checkout to facilitate transactions outside of the app. In a sample scenario, a user attempting to purchase digital currency within an app is redirected to a “buy now” page in Safari, bypassing the in-app payment process entirely.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Following the antitrust ruling, other apps are also adopting similar strategies. Patreon recently announced an update enabling creators to accept payments outside of Apple’s ecosystem, and Spotify is now allowing users to subscribe to premium plans via links within its iOS app.
These developments signify a potential shift in the power dynamic between Apple and app developers, giving developers more control over their revenue streams and offering users more choice in how they make purchases. Stripe’s new feature provides a readily available solution for iOS developers looking to capitalize on this change and avoid Apple’s commission structure.