Overview
- Apple announced on Tuesday, August 18 that it will replace its per‑install Core Technology Fee with a 5% Core Technology Commission for apps distributed outside the App Store and roll the change into a single set of EU developer terms.
- The new fee tiers take effect October 1 and let developers choose Apple In‑App Purchase, alternative payments, or external link‑outs inside the same EU app while requiring chosen payment setups to remain fixed for 12 months.
- Under the terms Apple set, App Store in‑app purchases will face a 26% commission or 15% for qualifying small developers, alternative in‑app payments will be 20% or 10% for qualifying developers, and link‑out purchases will be 15% or 10% for qualifying developers.
- Apple eased rules for third‑party app marketplaces and web distribution in the EU by broadening eligibility criteria but kept technical controls such as Notarization and added child‑safety rules that limit link‑outs for users under 13 and require parental gates for under‑18 purchases.
- The European Commission said it welcomed the settlement and will monitor implementation, while major developers including Epic Games have denounced remaining charges as excessive and plan legal or regulatory challenges, leaving the rollout legally contested.