Apple Sets New EU App Store Commission Rates for 2026

Apple will replace its European App Store fee system with new commission tiers starting 1 October 2026. Every developer, including crypto wallet makers and Web3 builders, moves onto the same rulebook, a shift that could reshape how apps get priced and distributed across the EU.

What actually happened

Under the revised terms reported by The Verge, Apple will charge 26% for purchases made through its own in-app payment system. Developers using outside payment processors pay 20%, and those who send users to an external site for checkout pay 15%. Apps sold entirely outside the App Store, through rival stores or the web, pay a 5% Core Technology Commission on digital sales. Apple is dropping three older charges: the initial acquisition fee, the store services fee, and the previous Core Technology Fee, a €0.50 (EUR) per-install charge above one million yearly installs. Once a developer picks a payment route, they are locked in for 12 months. Apple says this gives "consistency and clarity for users." Epic Games has already dismissed the new rates as "junk fees," according to the report.

How we got here

Apple rewrote its EU App Store rules last year to satisfy the Digital Markets Act, the bloc's law targeting dominant tech platforms. Regulators later fined Apple for anti-steering practices that broke the DMA. Apple pushed back, arguing iOS and the App Store should sit outside the law entirely, and lost that appeal last month. This latest rule change is Apple's attempt to draw a line under that dispute and lock in terms it hopes will hold.

Why this matters for you

For developers selling in the EU, pricing gets simpler but not necessarily cheaper. Commissions still span 5% to 26% depending on distribution choice. Smaller developers enrolled in Apple's discount programs keep reduced rates. Crypto and Web3 apps routing payments through alternate rails may end up paying less than under the old in-app purchase model. Buyers under 18 will need guardian approval before using alternative payment options inside App Store apps. Apps built for children under 13 lose the link-out payment option entirely.

The bigger question

Apple frames this as a final, simplified answer to years of regulatory conflict. But commissions still range widely by distribution method. Does a single fee structure actually resolve disputes between platforms and developers, or does it just shift the argument onto new ground, over what counts as a fair cut for access to a massive marketplace?

What to watch

The new terms apply from 1 October 2026. Expect continued pushback from developers, Epic Games among them, before that date. European regulators may keep scrutinizing Apple's compliance under the DMA, and other markets could watch for similar moves. bonuz.market will follow how these changes affect wallet and app access for Web3 users in Europe.