Apple cuts EU App Store fees and replaces per-install charge to comply with Digital Markets Act

Overhaul of the European Union fee model

Apple announced on 18 August 2026 that it will overhaul its commercial terms for software developers across the European Union, introducing a unified fee structure starting 1 October 2026. The revised framework eliminates the per-install Core Technology Fee, which previously charged developers 0.50 euros for every annual installation exceeding 1 million downloads outside the App Store. Apple also abolished its initial acquisition fee and store services fee, replacing the previous system with a 5% Core Technology Commission applied to digital transactions in apps distributed via third-party marketplaces or direct web downloads. The changes are designed to align Apple's business model in Europe with the requirements of the European Union's Digital Markets Act.

Restructured commissions and dual payment systems

Under the revised schedule, developers using Apple's proprietary In-App Purchase system within the standard App Store will pay a 26% commission, reduced from the standard 30% baseline. Developers qualifying for the App Store Small Business Program, the Mini Apps Partner Program, or the Video Partner Program will pay a discounted rate of 15%, which also applies to auto-renewing subscriptions after their first year. Transactions processed through alternative payment engines inside an App Store app will face a 20% commission, dropping to 10% for program participants, while external web purchase links will incur a 15% fee, or 10% under discounted terms. Developers can also combine Apple's in-app billing with third-party payment options inside a single app for the first time, provided they commit to their chosen configuration for at least 12 months.

Apple outlined the intention behind the revised structure in an official release.

These changes resolve Apple's disagreements with the Commission over business terms and alternative distribution.

Child safety rules and marketplace eligibility

The updated policy introduces new transactional limits for minors and specific eligibility criteria for web distributors across the European Union. Software listed in the Kids category of the App Store is prohibited from embedding external web links for completing purchases. Users under 13 years old are barred from executing in-app transactions via external websites, while users under 18 years old must obtain parental approval before completing purchases through alternative payment processors or external web channels. To distribute software directly from the web, operators must meet corporate qualifications, such as being a publicly traded entity or submitting an audit conducted by a licensed accountant.

Regulatory path and European Commission response

The policy adjustments follow several years of scrutiny under the Digital Markets Act, which took effect in 2022 to prevent platform operators from restricting market competition. The European Commission issued a non-compliance ruling and fined Apple 500 million euros (570 million dollars at the time) in April 2025 after determining that the company's anti-steering rules unfairly restricted developer communications. In July 2026, Apple lost an attempt to exclude iOS and the App Store from the scope of the regulation. European Union officials confirmed that they will oversee the rollout of the revised terms across member states.

A spokesperson for the European Commission detailed the regulatory stance following the announcement.

Following today's announcement, the Commission will monitor Apple's effective implementation of the new terms. Under the DMA, users in the EU have a right to full and effective choice of alternative app distribution channels.