Google Play Books for iOS now allows users to complete e-book and audiobook purchases through the Google Play website, leveraging Apple’s “reader apps” exception. This change enables Google to bypass Apple’s in-app purchase system, which typically requires a 15-30% commission on digital content sales.
Previously, users of the Google Play Books iOS app could only view or read books they had purchased elsewhere, as in-app purchases were restricted by Apple’s policies. Now, with the introduction of a “Get book” button within the app, users are redirected to an external Google Play website to finalize their purchases. Upon tapping the button, a system-level warning appears, informing users they are leaving the app and that Apple is not responsible for transactions made on external platforms. Once redirected, users can log into their Google account and complete the purchase using their saved payment information. The purchased content then becomes accessible in the Google Play Books app.
This update is made possible by Apple’s External Link Account Entitlement, introduced in 2022 following a settlement with Japan’s Fair Trade Commission. The entitlement allows “reader apps” (apps providing access to digital content like books, music, or videos) to include links to external websites for account management or purchases. Other apps like Netflix have previously adopted similar features.
While this process is slightly more cumbersome than direct in-app purchases, it provides a workaround for developers like Google to avoid Apple’s commission fees. Additionally, users can share purchased books with family members across devices via Google Play’s Family Library.