Another day, yet another company assesses Apple‘s commitment. This time, it seems that TikTok is breaking the company’s app policies since certain users are able to buy its coins straight from the platform’s website. Some iOS users may now be able to “Try recharging on tiktok.com to avoid in-app service fees” (i.e., Apple’s 30 percent commission on purchases) according to TikTok.
David Tesler, co-founder of Sendit, posted pictures on X (previously Twitter) that appear to show that TikTok is offering customers a 25% discount on coins (used to tip producers) since third-party service fees are reduced. After that, they may finish the sale using a credit or debit card, PayPal, or Apple Pay. It’s unknown why this circumnavigation is only available to a select few people; one theory is that it was enabled for those who have made substantial currency purchases in the past.
TikTok might get banned from the app store next week
Why? It looks like they’re circumventing apple fee by directing users to purchase coins via external payment methods pic.twitter.com/VG8ihvsRmv
— David Tesler (@getdavenow) April 30, 2024
In 2020, Epic Games announced discounts on the game’s cash for those who bought it directly, which led Apple to remove Fortnite from its app store. After the European Union started investigating the event, Apple reinstated Epic Games‘ developer account in March, capping a multi-year legal struggle. Spotify has lately pushed back against Apple, rejecting changes that would have shown the music streamer’s price and permitted in-app plan sales.
