Apple reduces commission rates in China’s App Store, benefiting millions of developers

On March 13th, Apple officially announced that starting March 15th, it will adjust the commission rate policy for the China mainland (mainland China) App Store. This is Apple’s first reduction in commission rates in six years and is an important optimization for the Chinese developer ecosystem following communication with Chinese regulators.

This commission adjustment covers a broad range, with core changes concentrated in two main areas. On one hand, on the iOS and iPadOS platforms, the standard commission rate for in-app purchases and paid apps will be reduced from the current 30% to 25%, benefiting all qualifying developers; on the other hand, for qualified developers under the Small Business Program and the Mini Program Partner Program, the in-app purchase commission rate and the first-year automatic renewal subscription commission rate will be further reduced from 15% to 12%, significantly easing the cost pressure on small and medium developers.

Looking back at history, Apple has gradually increased support for developers. In 2020, Apple launched the Small Business Program, reducing the commission rate from 30% to 15% for small businesses with annual revenue below one million dollars, providing important support for small and medium developers. In November 2025, Apple officially launched the Mini Program Partner Program, initially offering a 15% commission rate to eligible mini program developers; this time, it was lowered to 12%, further strengthening support.

Apple stated in a release that China has hundreds of millions of users who use the App Store daily. The company is committed to providing Chinese developers with excellent opportunities to create and distribute apps both domestically and globally, while also building a safe, reliable, and trustworthy app discovery platform for users. This adjustment is a concrete embodiment of Apple’s commitment.

It is also reported that Apple has promised to continue providing fair and transparent terms for Chinese developers, and that the App Store fee rates in China will not be higher than the overall fee levels in other markets, striving to make iOS and iPadOS the best application ecosystem and a huge business opportunity for Chinese developers.

Public data shows that the Chinese App Store receives 150 million weekly visitors, providing a vast market space for developers. Previously released information from Apple also indicates that since 2018, the total income of Chinese developers has nearly doubled, and most developers do not have to pay any commission to Apple. This reduction in commission rates will undoubtedly further stimulate developer activity and promote the continued prosperity of China’s app ecosystem.