Apple announced late on Thursday it would lower the commission fees collected in its App Store in mainland China. The move follows pressure from regulators in the tech company’s second-largest market, as well as global scrutiny of its payment requirements.
Key Takeaways
Apple announced it will lower App Store commission fees to 25% from 30% for paid transactions and in-app purchases in mainland China starting March 15, 2026. This move follows pressure from Chinese regulators and is expected to save developers over $873 million annually.
- Apple cuts App Store fees in China to 25%
- Move follows regulatory pressure and discussions with Chinese authorities
- Estimated annual savings of $873 million for Chinese developers
- Fees for small businesses and mini-apps reduced to 12% from 15%
- Change comes into effect on World Consumer Rights Day
The new 25% commission will apply to paid apps and in-app purchases, while a lower 12% commission (down from 15%) will be charged for auto-renewals of in-app purchases after their first year. The changes go into effect on March 15, 2026.
The cut is estimated to save Chinese developers more than 6 billion yuan ($873 million) in operating costs annually, according to the state-owned Economic Daily. This adjustment is expected to improve consumption choices and information transparency, potentially saving consumers up to nearly 1 billion yuan per year.
In-app purchase transactions for developers belonging to Apple’s small business and mini-apps partner programs will be cut to 12% from 15%. “Mini apps” refer to smaller applications that operate within a larger application such as Tencent’s WeChat. The move is a breakthrough for Chinese app developers and operators of “super apps,” including Tencent and TikTok owner ByteDance, whose platforms host many smaller apps created by third-party developers.
The 30% Apple tax remains a main target of antitrust scrutiny by regulators worldwide. The EU introduced new legislation in 2024 that forced Apple to lower commission fees to between 10% and 17% for developers. In the US, Apple allows users to pay in-app fees via alternative payment methods.
Apple’s fee reduction also applies to international developers whose apps are available on the China App Store. The move comes into effect on World Consumer Rights Day on Sunday, a time when Chinese state media usually highlights domestic and foreign companies accused of consumer rights violations.
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