Apple lowers App Store commissions in China to 25% for standard in-app purchases and 12% for small businesses, effective March 2026, following regulatory discussions.
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Apple has announced a reduction in App Store commissions for developers in China. The changes will take effect on March 15, 2026, affecting both standard in-app purchases and preferential programs for small businesses.
The commission for regular in-app purchases will drop from 30% to 25%. For participants in the App Store Small Business Program and the Mini Apps Partner Program, the rate will decrease from 15% to 12%. This same reduced commission will also apply to subscription renewals after the first year of use.
In practice, this move matters because it highlights Apple's response to regulatory discussions. The company stated that the decision follows talks with Chinese regulators. Previously, it was reported that China's State Administration for Market Regulation conducted an antitrust review of Apple's commission policies. Thus, the rate cut is seen as a step to ease regulatory pressure.
A similar adjustment has already occurred in Japan, where Apple recently reduced commissions to 21% for some third-party payments. Overall, the picture is straightforward: Apple emphasized in its statement that developers do not need to separately confirm the new terms to benefit from the lower rates starting March 15, and it assured a commitment to maintaining fair and competitive market conditions.