Apple has announced a significant overhaul of its App Store fee structure in the European Union, responding to regulatory pressure under the Digital Markets Act.
The most notable change is the replacement of the controversial Core Technology Fee — which charged developers 0.50 euros per annual install above a threshold — with a simpler 5% commission on eligible digital sales for apps distributed outside the App Store. Apps distributed through alternative app stores will no longer face the initial acquisition fee and store services fee.
For apps that remain in the App Store but use alternative payment processing, Apple will charge a 20% standard commission, or 10% for developers in its eligible small business program.
The changes come after the EU warned that Apple's previous App Store terms prevented developers from freely steering consumers to alternative payment methods, making Apple the first company found in violation of the DMA's anti-steering provisions.
The new fee structure represents a notable shift from Apple's historically rigid commission model, which has faced increasing scrutiny from regulators worldwide. The EU's AI Act transparency obligations also took effect on August 2, requiring companies to disclose when users are interacting with AI systems and to label synthetic content.
