Screenshots Imply TikTok Is Avoiding Apple App Store Fees

According to new evidence, TikTok might be finding ways to bypass Apple App Store fees. A recent report found that the social platform owned by ByteDance is directing some users to an external website to buy coins for tipping creators. Usually, users purchase these coins through in-app purchases, with a 30% commission paid to Apple.

According to TechCrunch, “The feature may be hidden from most users, either by design or because it’s only shown to users in a specific group, like testers or high spenders.” However, users with access to the new feature are experiencing a prompt to “recharge,” or purchase additional coins through tiktok.com. Despite tipster David Tesler discovering this feature and taking screenshots within the iOS app, the extent of their visibility among TikTok users, as well as the criteria for their display, is still unclear.

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

Tesler highlighted that the ability to buy via the web appeared for an account that had previously purchased a significant number of coins.

In certain cases, users encounter a screen displaying a message like “Try recharging on tiktok.com to avoid in-app service fees,” along with a “Try now” link. In other cases, they might receive a pop-up message stating “Try recharging on tiktok.com” along with information about potential savings to be made.

This message showcases the ability to save on service fees and access popular payment methods, accompanied by a prominent “Try now” button in red or a less conspicuous option labeled “Don’t show again.”

Clicking the link directs users to the coin purchasing page on tiktok.com/coin, where users can select from a range of payment methods such as Apple Pay, debit, or credit cards. The website emphasizes that buying directly through TikTok can save users roughly 25% “with a lower third-party service fee.”

Online, users can buy coin packs ranging from 70 coins to 17,500 coins, or they can enter a custom amount if they wish. In contrast, within the app, coin packs start at 20 coins and go up to 16,500 coins, without the ability to select a custom amount.

This might imply that TikTok is only showing the web links to certain users who typically buy bigger packs of coins in one go.

Though TikTok and Apple have not commented yet, Tesler pointed out that this isn’t the first time something like this has occurred. He said, “In 2020, Fortnite was removed from the app store for a similar interface in which they presented users with an option to bypass Apple in-app purchases.”