Australian judge forces Apple to allow alternative app stores
From March, Australian iPhone users must also be able to install apps outside Apple's App Store.
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Apple must open up its iPhone ecosystem in Australia to competing app stores, direct app downloads and alternative payment systems. Australia's Federal Court has set a deadline of 1 March 2027.
The ruling follows a competition case in which the judge found that Apple had abused its market power in the Australian market. The measures imposed apply to users with an Apple account whose region is set to Australia.
Developers must soon be able to offer apps through competing marketplaces and websites. According to the ruling, Apple may not unnecessarily block their use or disadvantage developers. Alternative payment methods must also be made possible for purchases within apps.
The ruling also limits the fees Apple may charge. According to the ruling, Apple may not collect a fee for payments made outside the App Store. For payments within apps distributed through the App Store, the court has imposed a limit equivalent to the fee for physical goods and services, plus reasonable additional costs.
The obligation does not mean that all security checks will disappear. According to the court, apps installed outside the App Store may be subjected to automated security or privacy checks. However, the court says those requirements must be necessary and proportionate.
Epic Games will also be given room to offer its apps again in Australia, including Fortnite, provided they meet the applicable conditions. The ruling will not automatically apply to Dutch users. The European Union already has separate rules for large digital platforms, including obligations concerning alternative app distribution and payments.
Apple has reportedly said it intends to appeal and seek a suspension of the ruling's implementation. It is therefore not yet certain whether the measures will fully take effect on 1 March. The case is nevertheless relevant to developers worldwide, as the ruling says they can supply Australian users if they participate in Apple's developer programme.
The case fits into a broader international debate about Apple's and Google's power over mobile software. For consumers, greater choice could lead to lower prices or different services, while Apple warns of risks involving privacy, fraud and harmful apps. The practical consequences of the Australian rules will depend in part on further legal proceedings and technical implementation.
Also show the region and a close-up
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Australia's Federal Court has required Apple to allow alternative app distribution and payment methods.
- The obligations apply to Australian users and must, according to the ruling, be implemented from 1 March 2027.
- Apple has announced that it intends to challenge the ruling.
- The court allows security checks for apps outside the App Store, provided they are necessary and proportionate.
Left
Arguments From a left-wing perspective, the ruling is seen as a correction to the concentration of power among large technology companies. Developers and consumers should not depend on a single gatekeeper that sets the rules, controls distribution and profits from transactions at the same time.
Values Balance of power, affordability, access to digital infrastructure and protection of smaller market participants.
Consequences More competition could reduce commissions and prices and create opportunities for smaller developers. The risk is that oversight becomes fragmented and consumers find it harder to know which provider is reliable.
Centre
Arguments The centrist institutional approach seeks a combination of competition and control. Alternative stores and payments may be allowed, but only with clear safety standards, transparent conditions and enforcement when providers disadvantage consumers.
Values Proportionality, legal certainty, consumer protection and innovation.
Consequences A gradual opening-up could increase freedom of choice without abolishing all safety mechanisms. Implementation will remain complex and could lead to lengthy legal proceedings.
Right
Arguments From a right-wing perspective, restraint in intervening in private platforms is important. Apple has invested in securing its ecosystem and, according to this reasoning, should retain room to determine its conditions, quality control and business model.
Values Property, freedom of contract, incentives for innovation, safety and limited government intervention.
Consequences Broad freedom for Apple could keep security and the user experience manageable. The disadvantage is that a dominant market position may restrict competition and alternative payment options.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The main obligations, deadline and possibility of appeal can be found in the Australian ruling and independent reporting. The possible consequences for consumers are presented as expectations rather than established facts.
- confirmed Apple must allow alternative app stores, direct downloads and alternative payments in Australia. — This follows from the measures imposed in the ruling. source
- confirmed The measures must be implemented by 1 March 2027 at the latest. — This is mentioned in the summary of the ruling and in reporting. source
- confirmed Apple intends to appeal. — MacRumors cites reporting by Reuters on this. source
- confirmed The ruling does not automatically apply to Dutch users. — The measures are geographically linked to Australian Apple accounts. source
Editor's note
The court ruling dates from 22 October 2026. Its precise implementation and the date may still change because of an appeal by Apple; the ruling applies directly to Australian accounts, not Dutch users.Sources
- Epic Games Inc v Apple Inc (No 2) [2026] FCA 1552 — Federal Court of Australia
- Apple Ordered to Open iPhone to Rival App Stores in Australia — MacRumors
- Apple must open iOS to rivals in Australia, but Epic loses global remedies bid — MLex
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „apple app store”
- De Telegraaf — „apple app store”
- de Volkskrant — „apple app store”