Windows 10 and 11: Microsoft removes Store fees for individual app developers

For years, Microsoft has been trying to make the App Store for Windows 10 and 11 the central point of contact for developers to publish applications. At the Build conference, the company has now announced that it will waive the fees for registering and submitting an application for inclusion in the Microsoft Store.

From June 2015, it will therefore be free for individual developers to bring their apps to the Windows App Store. According to the company, this makes the Microsoft Store for Windows the first “global digital store” that does not charge any fees for publishing apps. Until now, Microsoft has charged individual developers a one-off fee of 19 US dollars (14 euros).

In comparison: Google charges developers a one-off fee of 25 dollars and Apple charges 99 dollars annually. The removal of the fee should make it easier for aspiring app developers to make their apps available to more Windows users, “as the Microsoft Store is a great place to discover new apps”, according to the company. Meanwhile, there appears to be no changes for companies: They will apparently continue to be charged 99 dollars or 75 dollars.

Further innovations for the Microsoft Store

Microsoft is also promising developers additional features such as improved privacy policy hosting, additional help and support, and a policy change to allow a “non-interactive progress bar” for Win32 app installs.

The company also says that developers will be able to launch app campaigns to promote their apps. They will also receive better “health reports”, which should provide a better insight “into the quality and performance of apps”.

Another new feature sounds useful for developers and users alike: the Microsoft Store will now show when apps were last updated. It is a little surprising that such essential information was not previously part of apps in the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft has been trying to make the Microsoft Store more attractive for developers for years

Microsoft has been trying for years to make the Store more appealing to developers. For example, the company already allows developers to keep all revenue from non-game apps if they use their billing system. Microsoft charges 12 percent for games and 15 percent for apps if developers use Microsoft's retail platform.

In addition, the company had opened up the store so widely in 2021 that developers could bring in all kinds of apps. According to Microsoft, it did not matter whether they were developed as a Win32 app, progressive web app (PWA), universal Windows app (UWP) or in an app framework.

(afl)