TikTok in Hot Water Again: Bypassing Apple’s App Store Fees?

There’s some buzz going around that TikTok might be playing a little game with Apple’s App Store payment system. Instead of using Apple’s in-app purchase setup, TikTok seems to be sending users to an external website to buy coins.

Usually, when you buy coins on TikTok, Apple takes a 30% cut from each transaction. But now, a few lucky users are seeing a new option that takes them to the TikTok website to make their purchases.

This new pop-up basically says, “Hey, why not buy your coins on the TikTok website and skip those in-app fees?” It even gives you a direct link to the website. We’re not exactly sure who’s getting this new option, but it doesn’t seem to be everyone.

According to a report from TechCrunch, one user who had previously splurged on a bunch of coins saw the option to buy them via the web. This could mean TikTok is only offering this to big spenders.

We don’t have all the juicy details yet, but here’s the thing: Apple changed its App Store Guidelines back in January. Now, developers can link to other payment systems in their apps. But, they still gotta pay Apple a commission of 12% if they’re part of the Small Business Program, and 27% for everyone else.

TikTok might be trying out a new way for people to make purchases in the app, making the most of some recent changes. Even if you go through this new route, Apple’s still going to take a hefty 27% cut. Now, that seems to throw a wrench into TikTok’s plan to offer a 25% discount for purchases made on the web.

And, when you use this new buying option on TikTok, there’s no pop-up message letting you know that you’re about to leave the app and head to an external website. It looks like TikTok might not be playing by Apple’s rules here.