Apple changes App Store rule and allow developers direct users to third-party websites for external purchase including NFTs

Apple has revised its App Store rules to allow developers to include external payment links in iOS apps, including for purchasing NFTs.

A major policy shift following a court order in the Epic Games antitrust case.

The update, which applies to apps available on the U.S. App Store, lets developers direct users to third-party websites for digital purchases without using Apple’s in-app payment system.

This means apps can now include buttons and links to buy digital goods like NFTs from external marketplaces, a move long resisted by Apple due to its standard 27% cut on in-app transactions.

The changes are part of Apple’s compliance with a recent ruling from Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who found Apple in violation of a 2021 injunction.

The court barred Apple from blocking developers from including external purchase options and from charging commissions on sales made outside its ecosystem.

In an email to developers, Apple confirmed the updated guidelines reflect the U.S. court decision, emphasizing that these changes only affect apps distributed through the U.S. storefront. Developers operating outside the U.S. must still follow the stricter original rules, which prohibit directing users to external purchasing methods.

Key revisions to the App Store Review Guidelines include:

• Section 3.1.1: Apps can display NFT collections, and in the U.S., they may now link out to purchasing options beyond in-app purchases.
• Section 3.1.1(a): U.S.-based apps no longer need special entitlements to include links to external websites for digital content sales.
• Section 3.1.3: The restriction against encouraging alternative purchasing methods does not apply to U.S. apps.
• Section 3.1.3(a): “Reader” apps can now link to external sites for account management without prior approval in the U.S.

The decision is a win for developers and the crypto community, especially those building NFT-related apps, who have criticized Apple’s payment restrictions as overly rigid and profit-driven.

However, Apple said it is still appealing the court’s decision, even as it complies for now.

The ruling could reshape the way digital content is sold on iOS, loosening Apple's grip over app monetization, at least in the United States.