EU accepts Apple’s revised App Store terms after long antitrust dispute

# Quick summary Apple and the European Commission reached an agreement on new App Store business terms for the EU. The Commission said it welcomes Apple's changes following prior enforcement action and preliminary findings related to alternative app distribution. Apple's new rates depend on how apps are distributed and which developer programs they belong to.

# What changed Apple announced a simplified fee structure for the EU that sets different commission rates depending on payment method and distribution channel. The European Commission confirmed the changes follow a "close dialogue" after it issued a non-compliance decision related to Apple's steering terms and preliminary findings about alternative app distribution in April 2025. The Commission will monitor how Apple implements the new terms.

# The new fees, in plain terms

• App Store apps using Apple In-App Purchase (IAP): 26 percent.
• Most developers (including those in the App Store Small Business Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, or Video Partner Program) and auto-renewing subscriptions after the first year: 15 percent.

• Apps distributed via alternative app marketplaces or the web: 5 percent Core Technology Commission.

These tiers replace previous, more complex rules and cut the Core Technology Commission for apps distributed outside the App Store.

# Why this matters for developers and distribution Developers who sell through alternative marketplaces or on the web now face a 5 percent Core Technology Commission rather than higher prior fees. Those in Apple's designated programs (App Store Small Business Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, Video Partner Program) receive reduced rates on several transaction types, which will lower costs for many smaller or qualifying developers.

The structure clarifies costs for three common scenarios: using Apple IAP, using an alternative payment provider inside App Store apps, or routing purchases to external sites or marketplaces. That clarity helps developers decide whether to remain in Apple's IAP flow, adopt alternative payments, or distribute through other marketplaces.

# Timing and enforcement Related reporting indicates the new terms go into effect on October 1, 2026. The European Commission has signaled it will monitor Apple's effective implementation following its earlier decisions. The Commission's public comment emphasized the changes came after a close dialogue with Apple.

# What's still unresolved

# Bottom line For EU developers, Apple's new terms provide clearer, tiered fees tied to distribution and program membership, with a notably low 5 percent charge for apps distributed via alternative marketplaces or the web. The European Commission has accepted the changes and will watch Apple's rollout, but Apple's broader legal disputes continue in other jurisdictions.