Apple updates its App Store rules in the Netherlands to let Dutch dating apps take payments through third-party processors, but a 27% commission still applies
But they can't avoid giving up a 27 percent commission — To help bring an end to wrangling with Dutch regulators that stretched …
The VergeRichard Lawler
Context & Ripple Effects
Apple’s change follows the Dutch order that required alternative payment options for dating apps, after which Apple outlined a 27% commission for alternative-payment transactions. The new rules implement that payment choice while preserving nearly all of Apple’s usual in-app purchase take rate.
The dispute was about more than the availability of another processor: Apple had maintained that its earlier Dutch approach required only a minor technical change. Retaining the 27% fee keeps the commercial terms central to the regulator-driven change.
First-order effects
Dutch dating-app developers can use third-party payment processors, but Apple still collects a 27% commission on those transactions.
Apple gives the affected developers a payment-routing option without materially surrendering its App Store revenue share.
Second-order effects
Third-party processors gain access to Dutch dating-app transactions, but their fees must fit alongside Apple’s 27% charge, limiting the economic room for developers to switch.
The Dutch ACM’s response becomes decisive for Apple: acceptance would validate a compliance model that preserves Apple’s take rate while changing the payment mechanism.
Third-order effects
If this model is accepted, platform-payment remedies may increasingly separate payment choice from platform compensation, leaving gatekeepers able to retain substantial transaction fees after opening processing.
The case points to regulatory scrutiny shifting from whether an alternative payment rail exists to whether the resulting fee structure creates meaningful competitive choice for developers.
The trend: App-store regulation is moving toward mandated payment optionality, while platform owners seek to preserve their economics through regulated take rates.
Apple has softened its requirements for the use of off-platform payments for Dating Apps in the Netherlands. A separate app binary is no longer required, and the language of the pop-up notification modal has been changed https://developer.apple.com/ ...
Fun loophole in Apple's ‘dating apps in the Netherlands’ policy: “[devs] using these entitlements will be required to provide [every transaction] that has been facilitated through the App Store” However, external link policy prohibits parameters & only allows for a single link
So depending on your reporting/analytics practices and how you choose to implement this, you may have no data whatsoever as to whether a transaction has been facilitated by the App Store, or whether it was generated outside of the App Store 🙃
@reneritchie Excuse my French but what the F is with Apple and it having invented reader apps as some completely arbitrary category of apps in attempt to take the most vocal/influential criticasters off the table. What a bollocks. Sorry, but this is exactly why I cheer for the EU…
Can I just point out how ridicules it is that we should somehow be amazed by this. This should never have been something Apple had the power to allow or disallow. https://twitter.com/...
@reneritchie My problem has never been with margin or paying Apple, in fact I happily pay the fees given how much business they bring. The issue is with the arbitrary categories and rules, the gatekeeper/monopoly, curbing of innovation etc. For example, how does Facebook pay for …
@mekentosj I feel you. I've always said the only way to know if it's hurting innovation is to see if there's a major category of apps that grow on Google Play but are disallowed on App Store. That's just started to happen with game streaming services...
Normal apps, 70/30 (or whatever) creator/Apple works Normal service, 70/30 (or whatever) creator/service works “Reader apps” (I.e. double aggregators), 70/30/30 creator/service/Apple (or whatever) is impossible Hence years of arguments, deals, carve-outs, drama, etc. https://twit…
@mekentosj “Reader apps” are unique in that they have double brokers involved. Just like Apple aggregates apps for the App Store, they aggregate books or music or shows or whatever. 30/30/70 is impossible, so either Apple has to give up its cut, or the service has to, so they arg…
https://developer.apple.com/ ... - Distributing “reader” apps with a link to your website - Requesting the External Link Account Entitlement - Configuring and enabling the entitlement in Xcode - Understanding app and link requirements - Implementing the in-app modal sheet - Etc