TLDR
- Apple has resolved its App Store fee dispute with the European Commission and rolled out new terms effective October 1.
- The Core Technology Fee (per-install) is being replaced by a 5% Core Technology Commission on digital transactions outside the App Store.
- Standard App Store in-app purchase commission drops from 30% to 26%, with 15% for qualifying smaller developers.
- Alternative payment processing apps will pay a 20% commission, and apps linking out to complete purchases will pay 15%.
- Epic Games says Apple’s proposed 15% link-out fee is still too high and plans to file opposition within 60 days.
Apple has settled its long-running dispute with the European Commission over App Store fees, announcing a new set of terms that kick in across the EU on October 1.
Apple has agreed to a set of sweeping changes for its App Store in Europe, including dropping per-install fees for developers who don’t use the iPhone marketplace, to resolve a dispute with the European Union over competition concerns https://t.co/wWI14Cx6cp
— Bloomberg (@business) August 18, 2026
The headline change is the removal of the Core Technology Fee, which charged developers a per-install fee once they hit one million installs in a 12-month window. That fee is being replaced by the Core Technology Commission, a flat 5% cut on digital transactions in apps distributed outside the App Store.
The initial acquisition fee and store services fee are also gone under the new structure.
For developers selling through the App Store using Apple’s own in-app purchase system, the commission rate drops from 30% to 26%. That is a modest cut, but it applies across the board for standard apps.
Developers in Apple’s Small Business Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, or Video Partner Program get a better deal. They will pay 15% on in-app purchases. The same 15% rate applies to auto-renewing subscriptions after their first year.
Apps using alternative payment processing inside the App Store will face a 20% commission. Developers in the qualifying programs mentioned above pay 10%.
A New Route for Link-Out Purchases
For apps that direct users outside the app to complete a purchase, Apple is setting the commission at 15%. Smaller developers in eligible programs pay 10%.
Apps distributed through alternative app marketplaces or directly via the web will only pay the 5% Core Technology Commission. No other fees apply in that case.
Apple is also opening up something that was not previously allowed in the EU: developers can now offer Apple In-App Purchase alongside alternative payment options in the same app. Previously, it was one or the other.
There are conditions. Developers must pick their payment setup and stick with it for 12 months. Apple says this is to give users a consistent experience.
Child Safety Measures Also Updated
Apple has added new child safety rules tied to the updated payment options. Apps in the Kids category will not be allowed to link out to websites for purchases. For users under 18, apps using alternative payments or link-out purchases must include a parental gate. For users under 13, link-out to websites for transactions is blocked entirely.
Apple is also widening who can run an alternative app marketplace in the EU. New qualifying criteria include being publicly traded, backed by established venture funding, having completed a financial audit, or being a government or nonprofit entity.
Despite the settlement with the European Commission, Epic Games is not satisfied. Apple last week filed a similar proposal with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California as part of its ongoing six-year legal battle with the Fortnite maker.
Epic says Apple’s proposed 15% link-out fee in the U.S. is outside what the Ninth Circuit permits, and has roughly 60 days to file its opposition backed by expert witnesses. Epic is pushing for zero commission on link-out purchases for U.S. users.
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