Ever wondered why buying an e-book or audiobook on your phone feels like navigating a digital maze? It's not a glitch—it's by design.

Whether you're using Kindle, Nook, or Audible, you've likely noticed the strange absence of a simple "buy" button. Instead, you're forced to exit the app, open a browser, make your purchase, and return to the app. But why?

The answer: money. Apple and Google take a whopping 30% commission on digital goods sold through their app stores. For e-book retailers already operating on slim margins, this "app store tax" is financially unsustainable.

"Amazon, for good reason, did not want to pay those fees, or pass the fees on to their users," explains an industry report from MyBookCave. When Epic Games challenged this policy, they ended up paying Apple $3.6 million in fees for sales made through external links.

The situation has actually worsened recently. "As of June 2022, you can no longer buy ebooks on Amazon through the Kindle app. This isn't a temporary glitch; instead, it is the new normal," notes MyBookCave. Similarly, Barnes & Noble and Audible have removed or restricted in-app purchasing on Android.

Some relief came in 2022 when Apple introduced an "External Link Account Entitlement" for "reader apps". Google Play Books recently gained this permission, allowing iOS users to click a "Get book" button that directs them to Google's website to complete purchases.

For now, the workaround remains clunky: "Use Safari or another browser to purchase Kindle books," advises iPhoneLife.

Next time you're frustrated by the extra steps to buy your next good read, remember—it's not the booksellers making it difficult, but the underlying economics of app store policies.