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:
Solution type (integration mode) | Features | Recommendation |
Drop In | PayerMax provides pre-packaged payment components, eliminating the need for merchants to handle certificates and configurations, allowing for deployment in 2-3 days; offering the smoothest user experience. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Payment Cashier | One-click redirection to the PayerMax checkout page to complete the payment. | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Direct API | Fully customizable interface, suitable for merchants with independent development capabilities. | ⭐⭐ |
PayerMax uniformly maintains security certificates and Apple-compatible interfaces to ensure compliance and high success rates.
V. Refunds & After-Sales: Greater Merchant Control
Transaction type | Refund initiator | Review authority | Refund Time Limit |
In-app purchase orders | Apple | Apple | Uncontrollable |
Third-party payment orders | Merchant | Merchants make their own decisions | Can be processed immediately |
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
For a complete solution, please scan the QR code below to obtain the "Full-Process Payment Design Solution for Cashiers".
