TikTok can bypass Apple’s in-app purchase rules for its coins

Another day another company tests Apple’s resolve. This time, TikTok is allegedly violating the company’s app rules, with the video platform apparently allowing some users to buy its coins directly from its website. TikTok has apparently given some iOS users the “Try reloading on tiktok.com to avoid in-app service fees” option — namely Apple’s 30 percent commission on purchases.

According to photos shared on X (formerly Twitter) by David Tesler, co-founder of the Sendit app, TikTok nudges users to save about 25 percent on buying coins (used to tip creators) thanks to lower fees for third-party services. They can then use Apple Pay, PayPal, or a credit or debit card to complete their transaction. It is not clear why only some users have access to this round-the-world trip; one hypothesis is that the feature was turned on for individuals who had previously purchased a large number of coins.

Apple significantly kicked Fortnite from its app store in 2020 after Epic Games rolled out in-game currency discounts for anyone who purchased it outright. The incident set off a years-long legal battle, with Apple restoring the Epic Games developer account in March after the European Union began looking into the situation. Most recently, Apple faced pushback from Spotify and rejected updates that would have revealed the music streamer’s pricing and allowed for in-app plan purchases.