Overview
- Apple announced on Tuesday, August 18 that new EU terms will take effect October 1 and replace its per‑install Core Technology Fee with a 5% Core Technology Commission for apps distributed outside the App Store.
- The company set standardized commission rates of 26% for App Store in‑app purchases, 20% for in‑app alternative payments, and 15% for link‑out purchases, with lower 10–15% rates for developers in its Small Business, Mini Apps and Video Partner programs.
- Apple will let developers offer Apple in‑app purchase alongside alternative payment options but requires them to lock their payment choice for 12 months, and it keeps technical controls such as notarization plus new child‑safety rules that block external links in Kids apps and add parental gates.
- The European Commission said it welcomes the changes and will monitor implementation, while Epic Games and other critics call the fees unlawful under the Digital Markets Act and say they will press legal or regulatory challenges in Europe and the United States.
- For developers and users the rules open routes for third‑party stores and web distribution in the EU but also preserve Apple’s ability to set eligibility and security checks, a balance that could shape ongoing U.S. litigation and how other regions regulate app platforms.