Apple introduces 5% EU fee for apps sold outside the App Store

Apple is overhauling its EU App Store fee structure, introducing a 5% commission for digital transactions involving apps distributed through alternative marketplaces or directly from developers’ websites.

The changes will take effect on October 1 as Apple seeks to settle disputes with the European Commission over compliance with the Digital Markets Act.

The new structure separates fees based on how apps are distributed and how payments are processed. Apps distributed outside the App Store through alternative marketplaces or the web will incur a 5% Core Technology Commission.

For apps distributed through the App Store that use alternative payment processors, Apple will charge a 20% commission, with eligible small businesses able to receive a reduced 10% rate.

Apple said that the revised terms would eliminate the initial acquisition and store services fees used under its previous EU system. It will also establish a single set of developer terms for the region, bringing the framework closer to commission-based models already used in markets such as Japan and Brazil.

The move follows years of regulatory pressure over Apple’s control of its mobile ecosystem. EU regulators had previously criticized the company’s rules for creating commercial barriers to alternative app distribution and payment options, arguing that fees such as the Core Technology Fee could discourage developers from bypassing the App Store.

The European Commission said it welcomed the changes and would monitor how Apple implements them.