Apple Cuts App Store Commissions to 25% in China Without Conflict
Apple dropped its App Store commission rates in China to 25% without the blowback seen in other markets.
Cupertino, California: Apple is lowering its commission rates for the App Store in China after talking with Chinese officials. The new rate will be 25% for paid apps and in-app purchases, down from 30%. For services that renew every year, the rate drops to 12% from 15%. These changes will start on March 15, 2026.
Apple said developers do not have to agree to new terms to see the lower rates. The company said it wants to keep its prices fair and clear for all developers. Apple also said its rates in China will not be higher than rates in other countries.
China is very important to Apple’s money making. In the most recent three months, iPhone sales in China went up 16% from last year. This helped Apple make record high money in that period. The change shows Apple wants to keep good relations with China while keeping developers happy.
This differs from the European Union, where Apple and regulators have fought for years over app store rules. In the United States, Apple won a court case against Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite. The judge said Apple is not a monopoly but had to allow other ways to pay. Apple kept its rates the same in America but offers lower rates for small businesses.
The lower rates in China are in the new Apple Developer Program License Agreement. This means developers will see the new prices when they sell apps there. By avoiding a big fight, Apple may keep both regulators and developers satisfied with the change.