Where the commission comes from
When you sell digital goods or subscriptions inside a native iOS or Android app, the platforms generally require you to use their in-app purchase systems — and they take a commission on those sales. For many businesses that cut is significant over time.
A PWA isn't distributed through those stores, so it isn't bound to their in-app billing. You process payments through your own provider and keep the platform's share.
- App stores take a commission on in-app digital purchases
- Native apps are generally required to use the store's billing
- A PWA isn't in the store, so it isn't bound to that billing
- You use your own payment processor (like Stripe or PayPal)
- Applies to subscriptions and digital goods, where fees add up most
Selling through the web
In a PWA, checkout is just web checkout — the same secure, familiar flow customers use on any website. You choose the processor, own the customer relationship, and see the full transaction data.
That also means more control over pricing, trials, discounts, and billing logic than store rules typically allow, without a platform sitting between you and your customer.
- Standard web checkout with your own payment processor
- Full control over pricing, trials, and promotions
- You own the customer and subscription data
- No store rules dictating your billing model
- Works across every device from one storefront
The honest trade-offs
This isn't free money, and we won't pretend otherwise. Your own processor still charges standard payment-processing fees — smaller than store commissions, but not zero. You also give up the store's discovery, its built-in trust, and its one-tap billing, so you handle marketing and checkout trust yourself.
For subscription and digital-goods businesses the math often favors the web clearly; for others the store's reach may be worth its cut. We'll run the honest comparison for your model in a free consultation, not push a one-sided answer.
- Payment processors still charge normal transaction fees
- You lose store discovery and built-in store trust
- You own marketing, checkout trust, and support yourself
- Best economics for subscriptions and digital goods at scale
- Some businesses still want a store presence — often you can do both
More on progressive web apps
Frequently asked questions
Do I really avoid app store fees with a PWA?
Yes for the store's in-app purchase commission, because a PWA isn't distributed through the stores and isn't required to use their billing. You'll still pay standard payment-processing fees to your own provider, but those are typically much smaller than store commissions on digital sales.
Is it against Apple's or Google's rules to sell through the web?
Selling on your own website through a PWA is standard e-commerce and isn't a store transaction at all. The restrictions apply to purchases made inside a native app in their stores. Since a PWA isn't in those stores, it isn't subject to their in-app billing requirements.
What do I give up by not being in the app store?
Mainly store discovery, the trust a store listing carries, and one-tap store billing. You take on marketing and checkout trust yourself. For subscription and digital businesses the saved commission usually outweighs that; for others the store's reach may be worth it. We'll run the honest numbers for your case.