Apple is simplifying its European fee structure, but a major game developer says the revised system still leaves competition tightly controlled.
Apple is changing its fee system for developers in the European Union who distribute apps outside the App Store. Starting October 1, the company will charge 5% on digital transactions in apps available through alternative app stores or websites.
The new approach is intended to replace a more complex payment model and bring Apple’s rules into line with the requirements of the EU Digital Markets Act. The company said the updated terms would help resolve differences with the European Commission over developers’ access to alternative app distribution channels.
What Apple fees will apply in the EU
For apps that remain in the App Store but use alternative payment processing, the fee will be 20%. Members of the Small Business Program will be able to pay 10%.
At the same time, apps that users download through third-party app stores or from the internet will be subject to a 5% Core Technology Commission. It will apply to digital transactions within such apps.
Apple will also eliminate two charges included in the previous system: the initial user acquisition fee and the store services fee.
Why Apple revised the App Store rules
In 2025, Apple had already changed its App Store rules and pricing in EU countries following demands from European antitrust regulators. They believed the company’s commercial restrictions prevented developers from directing users to purchase digital goods and services outside the App Store ecosystem.
In particular, regulators criticized the Core Technology Fee because, in their view, it discouraged developers from using alternative ways to distribute apps on iOS.
The European Commission welcomed Apple’s new changes and said it would monitor their practical implementation.
Unified terms for developers in the European Union
Apple plans to introduce a single set of terms for developers in the EU. It will be similar to the commission model the company offers in other markets, including Japan and Brazil.
Japan and Brazil are also seeking greater openness in the App Store model. For a long time, developers paid Apple commissions of up to 30% on in-app purchases of digital goods and services. In the United States, the company remains involved in legal disputes over what payments it may require from developers.
Epic Games’ reaction
Epic Games, which has been in a long-running legal battle with Apple over App Store fees, criticized the new rules. The company believes they do not create genuine competition in the mobile app market.
Unnecessary fees that do nothing to open the mobile app ecosystem to competition, as required by the Digital Markets Act.
– Epic Games
If the Commission accepts these terms and ends its ongoing enforcement action, the law will lose all meaning, and consumers and developers will not receive the benefits it was designed to deliver.
– Epic Games
Apple’s updated rules will take effect on October 1 and will mark another stage in the company’s adaptation to the EU’s stricter competition requirements for digital platforms.