I. Major Policy Change: US App Store Opens Up Third-Party Payments

On May 2, 2025, Apple officially updated the App Store Review Guidelines:

Apps on the US App Store can freely add external payment links or buttons to direct users to third-party payment methods without Apple's approval.

This means developers can directly integrate third-party payments into their apps, no longer restricted to the In-App Purchase (IAP) system.

II. Five Key Benefits for Merchants

Profit Increase

By integrating third-party payments, merchants can save 12%–27% in Apple's commission, directly boosting net profits.

Example: With monthly virtual goods sales of $100,000, merchants can save approximately $12,000–$27,000 per month after switching.

Flexible Pricing and Promotions

No need to comply with Apple's unified pricing rules; merchants can independently set multi-currency pricing, regional discounts, membership prices, and other strategies.       

Diversified Payment Experiences

Supports multiple payment methods such as credit cards, debit cards, and Apple Pay, meeting user habits in different regions.

Enhanced User Experience

Users can complete seamless payments within the app, with more transparent pricing and simpler processes, leading to higher conversion rates.

Data Return to Merchants

Merchants can access complete user and transaction data to independently conduct membership operations and repurchase marketing.

III. Which Merchants Are Best Suited to Integrate Third-Party Payments?

Highly Recommended for the Following Types of Apps Listed on the US App Store

• Games / Virtual Item Apps
• Music, Video, and E-book Subscription Apps
• Education, Membership, and Content Payment Services

Note: To enable third-party payments, merchants must submit a separate build of the app for review on the US App Store; other regions must comply with local policies.

IV. One-Stop Solution: Integrate PayerMax Third-Party Payments

PayerMax provides comprehensive third-party payment capabilities to help merchants quickly and securely implement out-of-app payment experiences:

PayerMax uniformly maintains security certificates and Apple-compatible interfaces to ensure compliance and high success rates.

V. Refunds & After-Sales: Greater Merchant Control

Through PayerMax's channel, merchants can proactively handle refunds, disputes, billing explanations, and after-sales issues to achieve a "self-owned closed loop."

VI. App Store Review Focus

• Commodity prices must be publicly displayed;
• External payment buttons must be clearly shown;
• Button copy should be neutral and must not imply that IAP is unavailable or criticize Apple's commission;
• The status must be synced within the App after purchase completion;
• It is recommended to retain the IAP entry appropriately to balance strategic risks.

VII. Merchant Cashier Design Solution

1. Solution Purpose

PayerMax provides merchants with a standardized cashier solution to help quickly optimize payment paths and improve third-party payment conversion rates.

Currently in the US region, PayerMax supports two mainstream payment methods: Apple Pay and bank card payment.

2. Recommended Design Solution

• Use the Drop In integration mode and embed PayerMax Web components;
• Sensitive card information is hosted by PayerMax, so merchants do not need PCI-DSS certification;
• No secondary development is required for adding new payment methods later, enabling flexible expansion.

3. Phased Launch Strategy

New Merchants: First Launch on US App Store

Phase 1: Quick Integration and Launch

Directly access PayerMax pre-built components with built-in Apple Pay and Card payment;

Retain the IAP entry to meet review requirements;

The payment entry design is neutral, with no bias between IAP and third-party payment, complying with App Store guidelines.

Phase 2: Optimization and Scaling

Adjust the page layout, increase Apple Pay and Card payment entries, and make the "third-party payment entry" more prominent;

Open to specific UIDs in batches and guide users to use third-party payment with activities (such as recharge gifts, membership discounts);

Continuously monitor payment conversion and user feedback.

Phase 3: Full Release

Fully open third-party payment, remove the IAP entry, and maximize profits.

Existing Merchants: Already Operating on US App Store

Phase 1: Stable Transition

Retain the IAP recharge channel;

Add third-party payment entries (Apple Pay and Card payment), and first open to some high-frequency repurchase users in a grayscale manner to test conversion and review feedback.

Phase 2: Strategic Drainage

Adjust the display priority to make the third-party payment entry more prominent;

Open to big R users in batches and launch preferential offers (such as an additional 5% gold coins for third-party payments), and monitor payment conversion and future feedback.

Phase 3: Full Switch and Optimization

Fully open third-party payment, bid farewell to IAP commission, and achieve independent revenue and maximum profits.

VIII. Next Steps

Contact PayerMax payment experts immediately to obtain a customized "US App Third-Party Payment Switching Solution" to return App Store profits to merchants. We will help you on:
                   

• Quickly list in compliance;
• Efficient and secure integration;
• Achieve profit return and long-term growth.