Apple will move all European Union developers to a single set of business terms on October 1, TechCrunch reported, updating its App Store rules to resolve disagreements with the European Commission over distribution and commercial conditions.
The updated framework sets new commission rates for software distributed inside the App Store. Apple will charge a 26 percent commission on transactions using its proprietary in-app purchase system, a 20 percent fee for developers using alternative payment systems, and a 15 percent commission on purchases completed through external web links. Rates will be discounted for participants in Apple's Small Business Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, and Video Partner Program.
Developers in the EU may offer both Apple in-app purchases and alternative payment systems within the same app. Apple will require developers to maintain their chosen payment configurations for 12 months to provide consistency for consumers.
Alternative distribution
Transactions in apps distributed outside the App Store through the web or third-party marketplaces will face a 5 percent Core Technology Commission. Apple will no longer charge its previous €0.50 Core Technology Fee, which applied to each annual install over one million downloads, and dropped its store services and initial acquisition fees.
Web distribution remains limited to the EU market. To distribute third-party app marketplaces over the web, companies must meet specific eligibility rules, such as being publicly traded or providing a financial audit completed by a licensed accountant.
Regulatory context and child safety
The changes follow ongoing regulatory enforcement under the Digital Markets Act. The European Commission fined Apple last year after finding its App Store anti-steering practices breached the DMA, and Apple lost an appeal last month seeking to exempt iOS and the App Store from the law.
Additional safety rules for minors will take effect alongside the payment changes. Apple will bar kids apps from including web links for transactions and block users under 13 from linking out of apps to make purchases. Users under 18 must receive permission from a parent or guardian before completing transactions through alternative payment methods inside App Store apps.
