Fear of regulation: Apple voluntarily lowers App Store commission in China
Even before a possible intervention by the Chinese market regulator, Apple has lowered its App Store sales price. Previously, there was pressure from Beijing.
The App Store on the iPhone: Apple earns money from every paid app.
(Image: Sebastian Trepesch / heise medien)
Good news for iOS and iPadOS developers in China: From now on, they will have to pay less commission to Apple even if they generate more than one million US dollars in revenue with the App Store. In the future, a new standard rate of 25 percent will apply, a decrease of five percent. For the so-called Small Business Program, where only 15 percent was previously charged for less than one million dollars, 12 percent will now be due, a decrease of three percent. Providers of so-called mini-apps, which are distributed via "super app" platforms such as WeChat (Weixin in China) from Tencent, will also pay 12 percent.
Apple spoke with the regulator
Apple is apparently preempting regulation by Beijing – and corresponding pressure from the Chinese government – with the price reduction, as Bloomberg reports. Apple published the new tariffs in its developer blog, they are to apply as early as March 15, i.e. the coming Sunday. New terms and conditions are also to be introduced on March 15, but these do not have to be signed first to benefit from the new tariffs. Apple explicitly states that the commission reduction was reached after "discussions with the Chinese regulator."
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"We strive to make iOS and iPadOS the best app ecosystem and a great business opportunity for developers in China. We are committed to terms that remain fair and transparent to all developers," the company said in the statement. It wants to always offer "competitive App Store rates" that are no higher than the overall rates in other markets. For example, Apple had introduced new, partly very complex tariffs in the EU to appease regulators (and avoid paying no or a reduced fine, which is still pending) with "new" and "old" so-called terms. In China, however, there remains one rate, just a little cheaper.
Tencent praises Apple, can bill mini-apps itself
According to Bloomberg, Tencent said that Apple's change could create a "more open and mutually beneficial" platform environment that "stimulates innovation." In Japan, the commission for certain in-app payments by third parties was recently reduced to 21 percent, but this involves costs for a card payment service provider.
In China, the State Administration for Market Regulation had previously initiated an investigation into Apple's fees. Direct talks have been ongoing since 2024. Tencent and other super-app providers are now also allowed to use their own payment methods for mini-apps.
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