If you’re an independent author selling eBooks, you might not have noticed the legal drama unfolding around Apple. But the recent court ruling—forcing Apple to stop restricting external payment links in apps—just cracked open a door we’ve been knocking on for years.
And it’s about time.
Let me break down what happened, why it matters, and what you can do right now to turn this shift into an advantage. Spoiler: it’s a revenue game-changer if you act smartly.
What Just Happened?
Until now, Apple had a stranglehold on how people could buy things inside iOS apps. If a reader was using an app like Kindle or Kobo on an iPhone or iPad, they couldn’t tap a link and go buy your book. Apple wouldn’t allow it unless the developer used Apple’s in-app purchase system and gave them up to 30% of the sale.
Naturally, the major book platforms said, “No thanks,” and removed all purchase functionality from their iOS apps. That meant more friction for buyers: “Want to buy this book? Go open your browser and try to find it again.”
But the courts just told Apple to knock it off. As of this new ruling, developers can include buttons or links that direct users to an external website for payment. Apple can’t block it. Apple also can’t charge a fee on those transactions.
It’s not a minor tweak. It’s a tectonic shift.
Why Should Indie Authors Care?
Because friction kills sales.
Every time a reader has to switch apps or hunt for your book in a browser, a percentage of them drop off. This ruling means platforms like Amazon or Kobo can finally put a simple button back into the app: “Buy Now.”
If you’re publishing direct through a platform like Gumroad or Payhip (or even your own site), this creates a golden opportunity to drive readers straight to your storefront.
Fewer middlemen. Higher royalties. Better control.
What You Can Do Next
Let’s get practical. Here are the plays you should be running now:
1. Set Up a Direct Sales Channel
Use Gumroad, Payhip, or even your own website to sell your books. That gives you more control over pricing, bonuses, and upsells. Make sure it looks clean, loads fast, and works well on mobile. Readers are impatient.
2. Get Your Smart Links Ready
Use something like Books2Read or GeniusLink to create a single link that sends readers to the right storefront based on their device or location. It keeps things seamless.
3. Update Your Calls to Action
Wherever you ask someone to buy your book, update the messaging. Make it clear they can now purchase more easily from their device. Shorter path = higher conversion.
4. Watch the Big Platforms
Amazon has already started updating the Kindle app to include a “Get Book” button. Other platforms will follow. Pay attention. Once those links are live, you want your metadata and book listings optimized to take full advantage.
5. Start Capturing Reader Emails
If you’re selling direct, don’t forget to grab emails during the process (ethically, of course.) It’s your best insurance policy. If platforms change the rules again, your audience comes with you.
This Is Bigger Than eBooks
This isn’t just about a single ruling or a single store. This is a signal: the era of walled gardens is ending. Apple’s grip on in-app commerce is loosening, and that creates more open lanes for creators of all kinds.
If you’re smart, this is your moment to build systems and workflows that favour direct relationships and higher profit margins. This ruling gives you back something you never should have lost: a direct line between your creativity and your customer.
Don’t let it go to waste.
#StayFrosty!
J
