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Introduction

Dodo Payments empowers developers to sell digital goods and services in iOS apps, handling complex aspects like tax compliance, currency conversion, and payouts. This comprehensive guide details how to integrate Dodo Payments into your iOS app, specifically for SaaS tools, content subscriptions, and digital utilities.

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Overview

Dodo Payments serves as your Merchant of Record (MoR), managing critical aspects of your digital business:
  • What We Handle
  • What You Get
  • Tax collection and remittance (VAT, GST, and other regional taxes)
  • Global payments as per policies and local payment methods
  • Currency conversion and foreign exchange
  • Chargebacks and fraud prevention
  • End-customer invoicing and receipts
  • Compliance with regional regulations

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Use Cases

Subscriptions

  • Premium content or feature access
  • Recurring billing with flexible options, Free trials, Proration, or Upgrades and downgrades

Courses and Learning

  • Pay-per-course access
  • Bundled content packages
  • Lifetime or renewable licenses
  • Progress tracking integration

Digital Downloads

  • One-time purchases (PDFs, music, tools)
  • Digital asset delivery
  • License key management

SaaS Tools

  • Software-as-a-Service subscriptions
  • Usage-based billing
  • Team and enterprise plans

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Integration Flow

You can integrate Dodo Payments into your app using our hosted checkout or in-app browser solution.

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Integration Steps

1

Mobile App to Dodo API

The process begins with the mobile app creating a payment link by interacting with the Dodo API.
2

Dodo API to Mobile App

The Dodo API responds by providing a checkout URL back to the mobile app.
3

Mobile App to Checkout Page

The mobile app then opens this checkout URL within a WebView, leading the user to the checkout page.
4

Checkout Page to Your Server

Upon completion of the checkout process, the checkout page communicates with your server through redirects or webhooks.
5

Your Server to Mobile App

Finally, your server grants access to the purchased content or service, completing the transaction cycle back in the mobile app.

Mobile Integration Guide

For a complete developer walkthrough, explore our Mobile Integration Guide.

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Regional Availability

Dodo Payments enables alternative in-app purchase flows only in App Store regions where Apple explicitly allows external payments, or where a regulator or court order mandates it.

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Supported Regions

Supported to the extent permitted by current court orders and Apple’s updated guidelines.
  • Available under specific court-mandated provisions
  • Subject to Apple’s compliance with legal requirements
  • Must follow Apple’s implementation guidelines
Supported via Apple’s EU Alternative Terms and External Purchase Entitlement.
  • Enabled through Apple’s EU Alternative Terms
  • Requires External Purchase Entitlement approval
  • Must comply with EU Digital Markets Act requirements
Supported through the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement for Korea-only binaries.
  • Available via StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement
  • Requires Korea-specific app binary
  • Must comply with Korean telecommunications law
Always review and comply with Apple’s region-specific entitlements and App Store Connect requirements before enabling Dodo Payments for any storefront. Using alternative payment flows in unsupported regions may result in app rejection or removal.
For some business models - such as services or certain categories of content - Apple may not require the use of in-app purchase (IAP) at all. Dodo Payments supports these models as well. Always verify your app’s classification and Apple’s latest guidelines to determine if IAP is mandatory for your use case.

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Learn More

For a detailed breakdown of global policies, legal precedents, and strategic approaches to bypassing App Store fees, see our comprehensive guide:

Bypassing App Store & Play Store Fees: A Strategic and Legal Playbook

Learn where and how you can legally implement alternative payment flows, with up-to-date regional guidance and compliance tips.