Apple on Tuesday unveiled a simplified commission structure for app sales in the European Union, introducing a 5% fee on transactions through third-party app stores in a move the company said will “resolve” its disagreements with regulators over the Digital Markets Act.
The new system replaces a more complicated fee structure Apple proposed last year and takes effect on Oct. 1, according to the company’s announcement.
Under the revised rules, apps sold through Apple’s own App Store using Apple’s payment system will pay a 26% commission on digital goods and services. Apps processing payments directly through their own systems will pay 20%, while apps that link out to websites to complete purchases will be charged 15%. Apps distributed through third-party app stores or the web will face a 5% “Core Technology Commission” — a rate that can be cut in half for developers participating in certain Apple programs.
The changes come as Apple’s traditional App Store model — which historically charged 30% or 15% on all in-app purchases and required iPhone apps to be installed through its own store — faces mounting legal and regulatory pressure globally. Critics have long argued the company operates a monopoly on iPhone software, squeezing developers with fees.
Apple has defended its approach, saying the App Store and its purchase requirements are designed to support trust, safety, and security.
Regulatory backdrop
The European Commission passed the Digital Markets Act in 2022, requiring “gatekeepers” such as Apple to open its App Store and other services to third parties. But implementation has been contentious, with Apple facing large fines and ongoing friction with the EC over its proposals.
Apple said Tuesday’s announcement resolves its disagreements with the European Commission and noted it worked with regulators on child safety measures, including new parental restrictions on some in-app purchases.
Europe remains one of the few regions where Apple must allow third-party app stores. Japan and Brazil have also required them, but Europe is the only region where users can install iPhone software directly from the web.
In the U.S., Apple continues to fight restrictions on link-out payments tied to the Epic Games litigation, recently proposing a 15% commission on such transactions stateside.
Financial picture
The App Store is a meaningful contributor to Apple’s Services division, though the company for the first time since 2023 did not highlight it as a top driver of services growth in its most recent quarter, according to a Morgan Stanley note. CFO Kevan Parekh pointed to slower mobile gaming and other factors behind the App Store’s performance in a July call with analysts, adding, “Keep in mind, we also made some changes to the App Store business model in certain countries.”
Source: www.cnbc.com — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/18/apple-eu-app-store-fees-iphone.html
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