Apple cuts commission rates in China without fanfare

Apple said on Thursday it had reduced its commission rate on the App Store in China to 25% from 30% after discussions with the Chinese regulator. The new 25% commission will be applied to paid apps and in-app purchases, while a lower commission of 12% (down from 15%) will be charged on auto-renewing in-app purchases after their first year.

Apple said the changes go into effect on March 15, 2026, and will not require developers to accept the new terms.

The decision to adjust commissions without a long public battle indicates how important China is to Apple’s market, as well as how Apple sees the commercial value of its App Store. In the first quarter, the company reported higher iPhone sales in China, with revenue rising 16% year-over-year, helping it achieve a record quarter.

Compared to the European Union, where Apple and regulators have been going back and forth over commission changes for years, Apple appears to have lowered its prices in China without opposition. Meanwhile, in the US, Apple prevailed in a legal battle with Fortnite maker Epic Games, with a judge ruling that the iPhone maker is not a monopoly, though developers have won the right to direct their users to alternative purchasing methods (at least for now). As a result, Apple has maintained the same prices in the United States, although it has programs that offer discounted prices to various parties, such as small businesses.

The changes in China are documented in the new version of Apple’s Developer Software License Agreement.

“We are committed to terms that remain fair and transparent for all developers, and we always offer competitive prices in the App Store to developers distributing apps in China that are not higher than overall prices in other markets,” the company said in its announcement.