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Apple Overhauls EU App Store Fees and Terms, Replaces Core Technology Fee
Key points
- New EU App Store terms take effect October 1.
- Replaces Core Technology Fee with 5% Core Technology Commission.
- 26% commission for Apple's in-app purchases, 20% for alternative payment systems.
- 15% commission for purchases linking out of the app.
- 5% commission for apps distributed via third-party app stores or web.
- New terms are a direct response to legal challenges under the Digital Markets Act.
- Developers in Small Business, Mini Apps Partner, and Video Partner Programs get discounted rates.
- Most developers using Apple In-App Purchase tech on App Store apps will be charged 15%.
- Apple's changes resolve disagreements with the European Commission.
- The new terms unify developer terms for all EU app distributors.
- Developers can sign the new terms starting August 18, 2026.
- The new terms eliminate the initial acquisition fee and store services fee.
- EU welcomes Apple's new App Store commission rates.
- Commission for App Store apps using alternative payment processing is 20%.
- Developers in special programs pay 10% for alternative payment processing.
- Apple announced App Store price adjustments in four countries.
- Price adjustments take effect September 14.
- Price adjustments are for Israel, Indonesia, Morocco, and the Republic of the Congo.
- Morocco introduced a 20% VAT.
- Republic of the Congo introduced an 18% VAT.
- Tanzania's digital sales tax increased from 2% to 3%.
New Commission Structure for EU Developers
Apple has announced a new commission structure and unified business terms for app developers in the European Union, set to take effect on October 1. These changes are presented as a resolution to ongoing disagreements with the European Commission concerning business terms and alternative distribution methods.
Under the new model, all developers distributing apps in the EU will operate under a single set of business terms. This update follows previous adjustments to App Store fees in the EU and an investigation by a German antitrust regulator regarding App Tracking Transparency.
Revised Commission Rates
The updated commission rates include a 26% fee for App Store apps utilizing Apple's in-app purchase system. For developers who opt to use alternative payment providers, the commission will be 20%. Additionally, a 15% commission will apply to purchases that link out of the app to complete transactions.
Developers participating in programs such as the App Store Small Business Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, or Video Partner Program may see these rates reduced. The new terms also allow developers to offer both in-app purchases and alternative payment systems within the EU.
Core Technology Fee Replaced
A significant change is the replacement of the per-install Core Technology Fee with a 5% Core Technology Commission. This commission will apply to digital transactions in apps distributed outside the App Store, including those offered through third-party app stores or the web. This fee applies to apps that achieve significant scale.
This new commission structure is intended to simplify the previous system, which critics had described as complex and an example of "malicious compliance" with EU regulations.
Context of EU Regulations
These changes represent Apple's latest effort to align its App Store business terms with EU regulations, particularly the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Regulators have previously fined Apple for non-compliance and threatened further penalties.
Historically, Apple charged either 30% or 15% on all iPhone in-app purchases and mandated that all non-enterprise iPhone apps be installed through its App Store. The new terms aim to address the regulatory pressure and provide more flexibility for developers in the EU market.
Updates
- Apple announced App Store price adjustments in four countries.
- Price adjustments take effect September 14.
- Price adjustments are for Israel, Indonesia, Morocco, and the Republic of the Congo.
- Morocco introduced a 20% VAT.
- Republic of the Congo introduced an 18% VAT.
- Tanzania's digital sales tax increased from 2% to 3%.
- EU welcomes Apple's new App Store commission rates.
- Commission for App Store apps using alternative payment processing is 20%.
- Developers in special programs pay 10% for alternative payment processing.
- Apple's changes resolve disagreements with the European Commission.
- The new terms unify developer terms for all EU app distributors.
- Developers can sign the new terms starting August 18, 2026.
- The new terms eliminate the initial acquisition fee and store services fee.
- New terms are a direct response to legal challenges under the Digital Markets Act.
- Developers in Small Business, Mini Apps Partner, and Video Partner Programs get discounted rates.
- Most developers using Apple In-App Purchase tech on App Store apps will be charged 15%.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Apple announced upcoming price adjustments for apps and in-app purchases in Israel, Indonesia, Morocco, and the Republic of the Congo, effective September 14. These changes account for new or updated taxes, including VAT introductions in Morocco and the Republic of the Congo, and a digital sales tax increase in Tanzania.
The European Union has expressed satisfaction with Apple's new App Store commission rates for developers within the bloc, which range from 5% to 26% depending on turnover and sales channels. This development suggests a resolution to the long-running antitrust dispute concerning third-party app sales and alternative app stores in the EU.
Apple has announced new commission rates for in-app purchases for applications distributed in the European Union, effective October 1. These changes replace the Core Technology Fee with a Core Technology Commission, varying from 5% to 26% depending on developer program participation and payment processing method. This update is a direct response to legal challenges under the Digital Markets Act, impacting how developers monetize their apps within the EU.
Apple announced new App Store fee structures for the European Union, including a 5% commission on in-app purchases for apps distributed through third-party app stores. This change aims to resolve ongoing disagreements with EU regulators regarding the Digital Markets Act.
Apple announced new commission structures for apps in the European Union, replacing the per-install Core Technology Fee with a flat 5% commission for apps distributed outside the App Store. These changes are an attempt to comply with EU regulations and simplify previous fee structures that were criticized for complexity.
Apple is overhauling its App Store rules in the European Union, effective October 1st, to address disagreements with the European Commission regarding business terms and alternative distribution. The changes include a unified set of business terms for all developers, new commission rates for in-app purchases and alternative payment systems, and a 5% Core Technology Commission for digital transactions in apps distributed outside the App Store, impacting how developers operate and monetize their apps in the EU.
Apple has introduced new App Store commission rates and terms for developers in the European Union, effective October 1. These changes include a simplified commission structure, reduced rates for alternative payment options, and the replacement of the Core Technology Fee with a Core Technology Commission.
Apple announced updated business terms for apps in the European Union, resolving disagreements with the European Commission and unifying developer terms. The changes include a new commission structure for App Store and alternative distribution, and allow developers to offer alternative payment options alongside Apple In-App Purchase in the EU.