Apple Cuts App Store Commission to 25% for Developers in China

Apple is lowering its App Store commission rates in mainland China following discussions with the Chinese regulator. Starting March 15, 2026, the standard cut Apple takes from paid apps and in-app purchases on iOS and iPadOS will drop from 30 percent down to 25 percent.



Smaller developers will see lower fees as well. For businesses enrolled in the App Store Small Business Program or the Mini Apps Partner Program, the fee is dipping from 15 percent to 12 percent. That same 12 percent rate will also cover auto-renewing subscriptions once they cross the one-year mark.


The new rates will kick in automatically. Developers do not actually have to sign the revised Apple Developer Program License Agreement by the March 15 launch date to start seeing the lower fees. However, Apple warned that developers will need to accept the updated terms by April 15 to keep their access to back-end tools like App Store Connect, certificates, and provisioning profiles.

Apple told developers the change is meant to keep its storefront competitive in China, ensuring local rates aren't any higher than what it charges in other markets.

The shift in pricing comes as Apple faces increasing scrutiny over its App Store policies worldwide. The company is currently locked in a tense standoff with the European Union over alternative marketplace fees, and just recently agreed to change how it handles app reviews and rankings in the UK to appease competition watchdogs there.

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