Amazon brings direct eBook purchases to Kindle app on iOS after major legal shift

For the first time in over a decade, iPhone and iPad users can now buy Kindle books directly from within the Kindle app—marking a major shift brought on by a recent court order that has forced Apple to loosen its grip on in-app commerce restrictions.

Amazon quietly rolled out the new “Get Book” button in the Kindle app for iOS, which sends users straight to the relevant product page on Amazon’s mobile website. The update allows Kindle readers to seamlessly complete purchases through their browser, then return to the app to access their new titles instantly. This direct path was previously impossible due to Apple’s long-standing rules banning apps from linking to external payment options without using its own system, which carried a hefty commission.

The move comes in the wake of a contempt ruling issued by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in late April, tied to the long-running legal battle between Apple and Epic Games. The decision prohibits Apple from blocking links to external transactions or collecting alternative payment commissions, such as the controversial 27% cut the company had proposed as a workaround.

Since 2011, Kindle app users on iOS were forced to exit the app and manually search for titles in Safari or another browser—an inconvenience that frustrated readers and highlighted the broader tension between platform control and developer freedom. With the new rule now in effect, Amazon wasted little time reactivating a more streamlined purchase experience.

Apple has appealed the ruling, but with no pause granted during the process, developers are moving forward. Spotify is among the other companies already adjusting their iOS apps to reflect the change, and more are expected to follow. For Amazon, this update not only simplifies eBook buying but also sets a precedent for how digital storefronts may evolve on Apple platforms moving forward.