Hello Apple Team,
Why Is Apple Forcing Us to Use Its In-App Payment System?
I am writing this as the CTO & Co-Founder of BS Fintech Pvt. Ltd., India, who is deeply disappointed with our experience over the past six months.
Our fintech app, ScoreUp, has been live on the Google Play Store, where it has been serving customers successfully with 99.99% uptime and excellent user feedback. We have invested years of effort in building a reliable product that fully complies with Indian regulations.
However, despite multiple submission attempts over the last six months, Apple App Store approval has not moved forward because we are not using Apple's In-App Purchase (IAP) system for subscriptions.
This raises an important question:
Why are developers forced to use Apple's payment system instead of being allowed to use compliant third-party payment providers?
In India, we already work with trusted payment gateways that support UPI and comply with all RBI and NPCI guidelines. These providers process a ₹99 subscription for approximately ₹0.30 per transaction.
In comparison, Apple's commission of up to 30% on the same subscription creates a significant financial burden, particularly for startups building affordable subscription-based products.
Apple cannot force us to use its payment gateway, which is significantly more expensive than other compliant payment solutions.
We strictly adhere to all applicable regulations and compliance requirements prescribed by the Government of India, RBI, and NPCI. Our intention is not to bypass any regulations but to use a fully compliant and cost-effective payment solution that best serves the Indian market. We simply want the freedom to choose a payment solution that is:
- Fully compliant with Indian laws and regulatory requirements.
- Cost-effective for our business and our customers.
- Better suited to the Indian payments ecosystem.
Startups invest enormous time, capital, and effort into building innovative products. Restricting app distribution because a developer chooses a compliant third-party payment provider creates a significant barrier for businesses trying to innovate and compete.
I would sincerely appreciate clarification from Apple on the following:
- Why can't our app be approved while using a fully compliant third-party payment gateway?
- How does this requirement support fair competition and developer choice, particularly in markets like India with a mature, regulated digital payments ecosystem?
We hope Apple will continue supporting developers by providing greater flexibility and recognizing regional payment infrastructures that are already secure, regulated, and widely adopted.
We look forward to a constructive dialogue and a fair resolution.
I request a prompt response and a clear resolution to this matter. You may contact me.
If this issue cannot be resolved satisfactorily, I will have to explore all available legal remedies to protect our business interests, including seeking appropriate compensation for the business losses we believe have resulted from this policy and its impact on our app's launch in India.