Your iPhone is about to change in a way Apple has fought for years. On 22 October 2026, the Federal Court ordered Apple to let Australians install iPhone apps from rival app stores and developers’ websites — not just Apple’s own App Store. The changes kick in on 1 March 2027, and they could change what you pay for apps and subscriptions. Here is what the ruling actually means for you.
What did the court actually order?
The ruling came from Justice Jonathan Beach of the Federal Court in the long-running case Epic Games v Apple. Epic — the company behind Fortnite — sued Apple years ago, and in August 2025 the court found that Apple had misused its market power by locking iPhone app distribution and in-app payments to its own systems, in breach of section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. This week’s decision turns that finding into binding orders. The main ones:
- Rival app stores. Apple must let you find, download, install and update apps through competing app stores — not just its own. It cannot charge fees for that access or quietly obstruct it, and developers building for these channels must get the tools and APIs they need on the same terms as App Store developers.
- Direct downloads. Developers can distribute apps straight from their own websites, the way you can install software on a Mac.
- Other payment options. Apps can use payment systems other than Apple’s, and can link out to cheaper checkouts on the web. Apple can no longer force its own in-app purchase to sit alongside, or demand reports and audits of sales made outside its system.
- Lower fees. Apple cannot charge anything on purchases made in apps distributed outside the App Store. For apps inside the App Store, its fee is capped at what it charges on payments for physical goods and services, plus genuine extra costs — a long way from the up to around 30% it has taken on in-app purchases.
- Security checks stay. Apps from outside the App Store must still pass an automated security and privacy scan and be notarised by Apple or a qualified third party. Apple can only remove or disable such apps for harmful content, genuine security risks or legal requirements.
- Fortnite is back. Apple was ordered to process Epic’s developer agreements and readmit Fortnite and Epic’s other apps to the Australian App Store — and that part took effect immediately. Fortnite returned to the Australian App Store this week, six years after Apple removed it in August 2020.
When does it happen?
Most of the orders take effect at noon Melbourne time on 1 March 2027. Apple can ask the court, between 1 and 15 February 2027, to push that to 3 May 2027 — but the court has to approve any delay. Importantly, Apple has said it will seek a stay and appeal the decision, so the timeline could still shift. For now, though, the compliance clock is ticking: Apple cannot simply wait out the appeal.
One thing to be clear about: nothing changes on your iPhone today. These are future orders, and the full effect depends on what rival app stores actually launch between now and March.
Who does this apply to?
The orders cover users whose Apple Account is set to Australia — that is, the Australian App Store storefront. It is your account’s country setting that counts, not where your phone physically is. If your Apple Account region is set to Australia, the changes apply to you.
What could this mean for the prices you pay?
This is where it could genuinely matter. Today, when you subscribe to something like a music or streaming service inside an iPhone app, up to around 30% of what you pay can go to Apple. That cut gets baked into prices — or makes in-app subscriptions more expensive than signing up on a company’s website.
Once developers can link you to their own checkout and keep more of the sale, there is real pressure on subscription prices to come down — or at least for the “pay on the web, use the app” trick to work properly inside apps. Do not expect every app to get cheaper overnight: developers decide their own pricing, and some will pocket the difference. But competition between stores and payment options is the whole point of the ruling, and cheaper routes should appear.
How will rival app stores actually work on your iPhone?
Nobody knows exactly what they will look like yet — no rival store has launched for Australian iPhones. But the EU gives a preview, because iPhone users in Europe have had alternative app marketplaces under the EU’s Digital Markets Act for a while now. The likely picture:
- You will download a rival app store — say, Epic’s own store — from that company’s website or through a link, then install it on your iPhone much like any other app.
- Inside that store you will browse, install and update apps the same way you do today.
- Apps will still be scanned for malware and notarised before they can run, so this is not a free-for-all.
- Apple cannot pre-block rival stores or make them deliberately awkward to use.
Is it safe to install apps from outside the App Store?
The court kept Apple’s security checks for a reason: apps from outside the App Store are riskier than App Store apps, which go through Apple’s full human review. The automated scan and notarisation catch the obvious nasties, but they are not the same as a full review. A few common-sense rules once rival stores arrive:
- Stick to stores you recognise. Download rival app stores from the company’s own official website — never from a random link in a message or ad.
- Check what an app asks for. If a simple game wants access to your contacts, photos and microphone, say no or delete it.
- Keep your iPhone updated. iOS updates patch the security holes that dodgy apps exploit.
- Be careful with payments outside apps. Apple’s system has purchase protections built in. If you pay a developer directly on their website, you are relying on that developer’s own refund policy.
- You do not have to use any of this. If you are happy with the App Store, you can ignore rival stores completely — nothing is forcing you to install them.
What about developers and small businesses?
If you sell digital subscriptions or content through an iPhone app, this ruling is a big deal. You will be able to offer a cheaper web checkout inside your app, keep more of each sale, and even distribute your app through a rival store with different terms. Start thinking now about what your pricing could look like outside Apple’s system — the developers who plan early will have the advantage when March 2027 arrives.
How does this compare to what’s happening overseas?
This is part of a global push against Apple’s closed iPhone ecosystem. Europe already allows alternative app marketplaces under its Digital Markets Act. Brazil and Japan have moved in the same direction, and the UK has its own cases running. The Australian orders are considered among the toughest yet — particularly on fees, where they go further than what Apple set for itself in Europe. Apple is fighting similar battles in several countries at once, and the outcome in one place tends to influence the others.
The fine print: what could still change
Two things could move the dates around. First, Apple may ask the court for an extension to 3 May 2027 — the court decides. Second, Apple says it will appeal, and it may ask for a stay that pauses the orders while the appeal is heard. Neither is guaranteed to succeed. The safest assumption: plan on the changes arriving in the first half of 2027, but do not be surprised if the exact date slips.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to do anything now?
No. The orders take effect on 1 March 2027. Your iPhone works exactly as before until then.
Will rival app stores be free?
Installing a rival app store itself should not cost you anything — the court barred Apple from charging for that access. Individual apps inside those stores set their own prices.
Can Apple still remove a dangerous app?
Yes. Apple keeps the right to remove or disable apps from outside the App Store for harmful content, real security risks or where the law requires it — for example under the Online Safety Act.
Does this affect Android phones?
No. Android has allowed alternative app stores and direct app downloads for years. This ruling is about the iPhone only.
Is Fortnite on the iPhone again?
Yes — Fortnite returned to the Australian App Store this week after the court ordered Apple to readmit Epic’s apps.
