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by issamehh 1948 days ago
Reading Apple's policy makes it seem not so simple. Netflix, for example, avoids the cost because it is a subscription service which is specifically excluded from having a cut taken out. I can't speak for Kindle, but when I very recently read over this it was clear that just routing to a site to handle the purchase would not be sufficient to bypass this
2 comments

> which is specifically excluded from having a cut taken out.

Netflix is constantly at odds with Apple. You can't subscribe via the iOS app store and they don't even link to the Netflix website due to Apple's rules and how they want their 30% cut for app store-driven traffic.

https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/31/netflix-stops-paying-the-a...

> constantly at odds

Provides an article from 3 years ago during which time the sign-up flow has not changed and Netflix has exploded in growth.

There doesn't need to be constant news about Netflix changing stuff, they still don't like Apple's rules about it and there are still no links to netflix.com in the app.

> Trying to join Netflix?

>

> You can't sign up for Netflix in the app. We know it's a hassle.

And likely Netflix et al were grandfathered in because Apple _couldn't_ strongarm them. If Netflix was invented post AppStore, I'd wager that Apple would have them paying Apple taxes regardless.