Paddle wants to undercut App Store fees, thinks Apple will allow it

Hoping to benefit from an optimistic reading of the Epic Games v Apple ruling, Paddle has announced an alternative to Apple's in-app purchase system in the App Store.

Describing itself as a global revenue platform for software developers, Paddle has produced an API that app makers can use instead of Apple's in-app purchasing system. Due to go live in December 2021, Paddle expects that developers will use its system, and its lower prices, to circumvent Apple while remaining on the App Store.

"Paddle's new offering is a direct response to the recent ruling in the Apple vs Epic lawsuit," says the company in a press release. "Paddle In-App Purchase is a true like-for-like, drop-in replacement for Apple's IAP, allowing developers to maintain a seamless user experience, without having to pay Apple 30% of every sale.

"Paddle has a highly competitive fee structure," it continues, "charging just 10% for transactions under $10, and just 5% on transactions over $10. This means that developers earn more from every purchase."

Introducing the new Paddle In-App Purchase - the industry's first alternative in-app Purchasing system for iOS, launching December 7th 2021.

All the same benefits as the App Store, without the hefty price tag.

Find out more here: https://t.co/2p14gMV7nE
— Paddle (@PaddleHQ) October 7, 2021

However, this appears to overestimate the ruling in the Epic versus Apple case by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The specific ruling regards what are called "anti-steering" measures.

Apple will be "restrained and enjoined" from preventing developers telling their users about other ways to pay. So a developer could, for instance, inform users of special offers on other platforms.

Paddle expects developers to instead swap Apple's in-app purchase system for its own. So more than telling users of other ways to pay, it would mean apps include a payment system directly.

"Our alternative In-App Purchase offering gives developers the chance to retain all the things they like about the App Store, while also giving them greater control and lower costs," said Christian Owens, Founder and CEO of Paddle. "We're incredibly excited to be rolling this out and look forward to helping customers get set up and ready for the switchover in December."

Talking to iMore, antitrust and patent litigation expert Florian Mueller, of FOSS Patents, says the Epic versus Apple ruling "doesn't have scope for [Paddle's] approach."

"Developers will presumably see their apps rejected [by Apple] when they incorporate the Paddle API, and rightly so," he continues.

Paddle claims that it has taken legal advice and that its approach is permissible within the ruling. Apple has not yet commented.

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16 Comments

entropys 13 Years · 4316 comments

About 3 years ago

Our alternative In-App Purchase offering gives developers the chance to retain all the things they like about the App Store, while also giving them greater control and lower costs
~~Paddle~~
Peddle means a lot of data on users.

macplusplus 9 Years · 2116 comments

Whatever their method is, Apple may implement the same and can still maintain its profits. For example, let's consider a coupon based payment system. Apple may drop the in-app payment method altogether and implement "app coupons". Just like iTunes coupons sold everywhere. Such "app coupons" may be sold both by Apple and many third parties. In such a scheme, Apple would still sell the huge majority of those "app coupons" and third parties would sell only a tiny percentage. Because no one would bother to switch stores for the sake of providing "more profit to the developer". Competition would be met and everyone would be happy, except those third parties.

Marvin 18 Years · 15355 comments

AppleInsider said:
Paddle claims that it has taken legal advice and that its approach is permissible within the ruling. Apple has not yet commented.

This is probably true that they can add the service but the developer still agrees to pay Apple a 15-30% commission on sales. Paddle's 5-10% will be in addition to Apple's commission. Apple has stated a number of times the commission isn't for the payment service, it's for making money via the store, it's just collected more easily via their own payment system. This is the same as any store like Amazon, eBay, Steam. If someone buys an item on eBay and pays cash on collection, the seller still owes eBay the fee for the sale.

lkrupp 19 Years · 10521 comments

"Paddle expects that developers will use its system, and its lower prices, to circumvent Apple while remaining on the App Store.”

What assholes these developers are. They want the benefits of the App Store but they don’t want to pay for them. They demand to be able to “circumvent” Apple’s fee structures to maximize their own profits and Apple is supposed to just go with it? I’m starting to think maybe Apple should allow third party app stores and let these parasites fend for themselves. Let's see how it takes for them to come back with hat in hand, suddenly appreciating what they have in the App Store. Allowing side loading would immediately make all claims of anti-competitive behavior vanish. Apple could continue on with its App Store policies. If developers don’t like it, fine, go somewhere else to hawk your warez. See how long it takes them to realize the error of their ways.

gatorguy 13 Years · 24627 comments

lkrupp said:

"Paddle expects that developers will use its system, and its lower prices, to circumvent Apple while remaining on the App Store.”

What assholes these developers are. They want the benefits of the App Store but they don’t want to pay for them. They demand to be able to “circumvent” Apple’s fee structures to maximize their own profits and Apple is supposed to just go with it? I’m starting to think maybe Apple should allow third party app stores and let these parasites fend for themselves. Let's see how it takes for them to come back with hat in hand, suddenly appreciating what they have in the App Store. Allowing side loading would immediately make all claims of anti-competitive behavior vanish. Apple could continue on with its App Store policies. If developers don’t like it, fine, go somewhere else to hawk your warez. See how long it takes them to realize the error of their ways.

You and I are on the same page. This mostly goes away (but not entirely: See Google and the Play Store) if Apple simply enables third-party stores and sideloading via security settings. I believe that would be in Apple's best interests rather than under force of a court order. One will get reported as positive while that other would attract negative press all around.

But IMO it won't happen based on everything that has occurred to date. Apple is going to be as intransigent as possible, making only the smallest changes in response to legal challenges. I believe if third party appstores are ever allowed it will be because a court has found Apple guilty in some antitrust action.