UK Regulator Proposes Forcing Apple to Allow Alternative App Store Payments and NFC Access

Britain's Competition and Markets Authority has proposed new rules that would let app developers direct users to alternative payment options outside Apple's App Store and Google Play.



The proposals would remove restrictions that currently prevent UK developers from directing customers to payment methods outside their app stores. While both companies would still be permitted to charge fees for facilitating these external transactions, the regulator said any commissions must be fair and reasonable. Those fees would need to remain below the current commissions, which can reach up to 30 percent.


In comments reviewed by Reuters, CMA executive director for digital markets Will Hayter said Apple and Google should still be compensated for the services they provide, but any fees for external payments should be supported by evidence of their costs and value. The CMA expects lower fees to either reduce prices for consumers or allow developers to invest more in their apps.

In addition to payment steering, the CMA is considering a requirement for Apple to open access to its near-field communication technology. Unlocking the NFC chip would allow UK fintech companies and banks to build their own contactless payment alternatives directly within their iOS applications without relying on Apple Wallet. The regulator said this could also enable emerging technologies such as direct account-to-account payments and digital currencies on the iPhone.

Apple strongly opposes the regulatory push. An Apple spokesperson said steering users away from the company's trusted payment infrastructure removes essential protections, leaving customers vulnerable to scams and bait-and-switch tactics. The company also warned that bypassing its native billing system makes it easier to circumvent parental controls and limits its ability to verify transactions.

Google said it has already taken steps in that direction, pointing to new Play Store terms introduced earlier this month that allow developers to steer users to complete transactions outside the platform. The CMA said it will evaluate Google's recent changes as part of its ongoing review before deciding whether to impose formal requirements later this year.


The proposals are part of Britain's broader digital markets regime, which gives the CMA targeted powers over companies designated as having "strategic market status" in mobile ecosystems.

The regulator has already used those powers to secure commitments from Apple to improve how it handles App Store rankings and reviews in the UK, though those changes did not address App Store commissions.

Apple also continues to face pressure over App Store payment rules in the European Union, Japan, and the United States. The company has also reached agreements over alternative app marketplaces and payment options in Brazil, while an ongoing legal battle over out-of-app purchase commissions continues in the United States.