Apple announced Thursday that it will reduce commission rates on its App Store in China from 30% to 25% after consultation with Chinese regulators. The new 25% fee applies to paid apps and in-app purchases, but auto-renewing in-app purchases after the first year will be charged a lower 12% fee (down from 15%).
The changes will take effect on March 15, 2026, and developers will not be required to agree to any new terms, Apple said.
The decision to adjust fees without a lengthy public battle shows how important China is to Apple’s market and how Apple sees the business value of the App Store. In the first quarter, the company reported a surge in iPhone sales in China, with revenue up 16% year over year, contributing to a record quarter.
Compared to the EU, where Apple and regulators have gone back and forth over fee changes for years, Apple appears to have lowered its fees in China without any backlash. Meanwhile, in the US, Apple won a legal battle with Fortnite maker Epic Games after a judge ruled that the iPhone maker does not have a monopoly, but the developers won the right (for now at least) to steer users to alternative purchasing methods. As a result, Apple has kept its rates the same in the United States, but has programs in place that offer discounted rates to a variety of parties, including small businesses.
Changes in China are documented in a new version of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement.
“We adhere to fair and transparent terms for all developers and are committed to consistently offering competitive App Store rates for developers distributing apps in China that do not exceed overall rates in other markets,” the company said in an announcement.
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