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

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iOS
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.

Paddle offers developers an alternative to Apple's in-app payment system
Paddle offers developers an alternative to Apple's in-app payment system


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)


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.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 16
    entropysentropys Posts: 4,166member
    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.
    edited October 2021 magman1979williamlondonviclauyycwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 16
    macplusplusmacplusplus Posts: 2,112member
    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.
    edited October 2021 chaickawatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 16
    MarvinMarvin Posts: 15,322moderator
    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.
    sdw2001the1maximuschaickamagman1979Beatswilliamlondonviclauyycwatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 16
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    "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.
    magman1979Solomon_Grundywilliamlondonstevenozwatto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 16
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,213member
    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. 
    edited October 2021 muthuk_vanalingamdarkvaderchaicka
  • Reply 6 of 16
    jensonbjensonb Posts: 532member
    Paddle In-App Purchase is a true like-for-like, drop-in replacement for Apple's IAP

    Except it’s not, because if you look at what they’re actually doing, it bounces the user out to the browser to complete the transaction. So it’s…Not IAPs at all. This is unsurprising considering the ruling in no way allowed alternative IAPs, but it does make what Paddle are saying disingenuous at best.

    Solomon_Grundywatto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 16
    jeffharrisjeffharris Posts: 786member
    entropys said:
    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.
    Not PUDDLE? Drip, drip drip…
    Solomon_Grundywatto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 16
    sdw2001sdw2001 Posts: 18,016member
    All I can do is laugh out loud at this one.  Paddle cannot possibly believe Apple will allow this, or that they will be required to allow it.  The ruling says nothing of Apple giving up its commission.  It simply stops Apple from outright banning third party payment systems.  They can still get their commission, or institute fees to compensate for it.  I have to think Paddle is just looking for another court fight.  
    magman1979williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 16
    hammeroftruthhammeroftruth Posts: 1,309member
    So Paddle claims they will be liable for support and any other issues. Just wait until some scum developer uses it to defraud people.
    williamlondonviclauyycwatto_cobra
  • Reply 10 of 16
    retrogustoretrogusto Posts: 1,111member
    I’m not sure if Apple has officially reserved the right to permanently remove developers from the store if they break the rules, but if not, they should.
    Beatsstevenozwatto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 16
    chaickachaicka Posts: 257member
    gatorguy said:
    .......... I believe if third party appstores are ever allowed it will be because a court has found Apple guilty in some antitrust action. 
    If any court is so dumb to ever find Apple guilty of antitrust just because of its App Store, then many platform's proprietary digital store will fall under the same. Example: Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, etc...
    magman1979Beatswilliamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 12 of 16
    sbdudesbdude Posts: 259member
    chaicka said:
    gatorguy said:
    .......... I believe if third party appstores are ever allowed it will be because a court has found Apple guilty in some antitrust action. 
    If any court is so dumb to ever find Apple guilty of antitrust just because of its App Store, then many platform's proprietary digital store will fall under the same. Example: Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, etc...
    To me, this "app store is a monopoly" business is like gas stations. I've got 76, Chevron, Mobil, and USA to choose from in my area, but the gas for each comes from their individual refineries. Does that mean that each one has a monopoly on the gas they buy? No! How can you be a monopoly of your own product?

    And that's why the judge ruled correctly.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 13 of 16
    ericthehalfbeeericthehalfbee Posts: 4,486member
    Has anyone done the math on this? It’s a massive failure and won’t get used by any developer.

    The biggest problem is getting consumers to switch payment systems. That’s going to require an incentive, and the only reasonable one they could offer is a lower price. And for inexpensive Apps, no consumer is going to switch to save less than $1 on an App purchase.
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 14 of 16
    BeatsBeats Posts: 3,073member
    chaicka said:
    gatorguy said:
    .......... I believe if third party appstores are ever allowed it will be because a court has found Apple guilty in some antitrust action. 
    If any court is so dumb to ever find Apple guilty of antitrust just because of its App Store, then many platform's proprietary digital store will fall under the same. Example: Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, etc...

    Let’s keep going:
    Netflix, YouTube, Steam, ReasonStudios (audio company), Epic Store. 

    Any company should be allowed to steal another’s platforms/revenue correct? Can I develop a company in my garage that hijacks Apple and others with a .05% transaction fee?
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 15 of 16
    viclauyycviclauyyc Posts: 849member
    chaicka said:
    gatorguy said:
    .......... I believe if third party appstores are ever allowed it will be because a court has found Apple guilty in some antitrust action. 
    If any court is so dumb to ever find Apple guilty of antitrust just because of its App Store, then many platform's proprietary digital store will fall under the same. Example: Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, etc...
    You forgot Epic’s own store
    Beatswatto_cobra
  • Reply 16 of 16
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,093member
    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.
    I just can't see Apple ever allowing a 3rd-party App Store.  When s**t hits the fan and a rogue app steals your info, bricks your iPhone, etc... the el-cheapo Joe-User will blame Apple for allowing it.  It will damage Apple's brand.

    It's shameful the whining of some vocal developers are.  They should not even be allowed to call themselves "Developers".  More like "moochers", "parasites", etc...

    Apple does all the work to develop the hardware, and software, and go keep current customers happy and attract new customers to Apple's ecosystem and these pond-scum developers want access to all of Apple's hard work and tries to circumvent Apple and deny Apple their fair share?  Not going to happen.
    edited October 2021 williamlondonBeatswatto_cobra
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