Apple cuts China App Store fees to fend off local regulators

Published Fri, Mar 13, 2026 · 11:07 AM

[LOS ANGELES] Apple is lowering the fees it collects from app developers for software and in-app purchases in China, the latest move to appease regulators cracking down on its digital offerings.

The company said on Thursday (Mar 12) that its commission is changing from 30 to 25 per cent for its mainland China App Store. The move is effective on Mar 15 and applies to apps for both iOS and iPadOS, Apple said on its developer website. Apple is making the move “following discussions with the Chinese regulator”, the company said.

The iPhone maker is also lowering its rate for apps that are part of its programmes for small businesses and developers of mini apps, from 15 to 12 per cent. The small business programme applies to developers who generated under US$1 million in revenue during the prior year, while mini apps are small programmes that run within apps, such as WeChat.

“We are committed to terms that remain fair and transparent to all developers, and to always offering competitive App Store rates to developers distributing apps in China that are no higher than overall rates in other markets,” the company added on its website.

Apple previously shook up its commission structure in the EU in order to appease regulators, while it also now allows apps in the US to freely point customers to the web to complete in-app transactions, bypassing its payment system. It has also made major changes in response to regulators in Japan.

Bloomberg News reported last year that China’s antitrust watchdog, the State Administration for Market Regulation, is investigating Apple’s app fees in the region. Agency officials have been in discussions with Apple executives and app developers dating back to 2024 regarding the issue. BLOOMBERG