In a major regulatory milestone, Apple has reached an agreement with the European Commission to overhaul its App Store business terms across the European Union. Taking effect on October 1, 2026, the updated policies bring a simplified, unified fee structure designed to align directly with the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The revised framework resolves long-standing antitrust disputes between the Cupertino tech giant and European regulators, granting developers unprecedented freedom to promote third-party app stores and off-platform payments.
Abolishing the Core Technology Fee and Extra Charges
The most significant change is the elimination of the contentious Core Technology Fee (CTF), which previously levied a €0.50 charge per annual first install on high-volume applications.
Apple has also abolished the Initial Acquisition Fee and Store Services Fee. For apps distributed outside the App Store through alternative marketplaces or direct web sideloading, Apple is replacing the CTF with a flat 5% Core Technology Commission applied only to completed digital transactions.
Revised Commission Tiers and Payment Flexibility
Under the new unified terms, commission rates for sales within the EU have been restructured across three distinct tiers:
- App Store In-App Purchases: Standard commission is set at 26%, dropping to 15% for small developers under the Small Business Program.
- Alternative Payment Processing: Developers utilizing external payment processors inside App Store apps will pay a reduced 20% fee (or 10% for small businesses).
- Linking Out: Apps that steer users to external websites to complete purchases will face a 15% commission (or 10% for eligible small businesses).
Greater Autonomy for Developers
Developers are no longer forced to choose between exclusive payment silos. Starting this fall, developers can simultaneously support Apple In-App Purchase, alternative payment gateways, and external promotional web links within the same app interface.
The European Commission has welcomed the reforms, emphasizing that the new rules remove restrictive steering barriers while preserving consumer choice across the 27 EU member states.