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Article: Apple drops commission rates in China without a fuss

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Apple is reducing its App Store commission rate in China to 25% from 30%, with a separate lower rate for long-term auto-renewals, following discussions with regulators. The changes will take effect in March 2026 and apply automatically to developers.

This swift adjustment, contrasting with protracted regulatory battles in other regions, underscores China's critical importance to Apple's market and business. The company reported a significant 16% year-over-year revenue increase for iPhone sales in China in its latest quarter.

The main topics covered are Apple's commission rate change in China, the effective date, the comparative regulatory approaches in different global markets, and the strategic significance of the Chinese market to Apple.

Original URL

https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/13/apple-drops-commission-rates-in-china-25-percent/

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TechCrunch

Published Date

2026-03-13 15:12

Fetched Date

2026-03-13 12:30

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2026-03-13 12:33

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Apple is dropping its commission rate in the App Store in China to 25% from 30% following discussions with the Chinese regulator, the company said Thursday. The new 25% commission will apply to paid apps and in-app purchases, while a lower 12% commission (down from 15%) will be charged for auto-renewals of in-app purchases after their first year.
The changes go into effect on March 15, 2026, and will not require developers to accept new terms, Apple said.
The decision to adjust commissions without a long, public battle indicates both how important China is to Apple’s market, as well as how Apple sees its App Store’s business value. The company in its first quarter reported soaring iPhone sales in China, with revenue up 16% year-over-year, helping it deliver a record-breaking quarter.
Compared with the EU, where Apple and regulators have been going back and forth on commission changes for years, Apple seemingly dropped its rates in China without pushback. Meanwhile, in the U.S., Apple prevailed in a legal battle with Fortnite maker Epic Games, as a judge decided the iPhone maker was not a monopoly, though developers won the right to route their users to alternative purchase methods (at least for now). As a result, Apple has kept the same rates in the U.S., though it has programs that offer discounted rates for various parties, like small businesses.
The changes in China are documented in the new version of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement.
“We are committed to terms that remain fair and transparent to all developers, and to always offering competitive App Store rates to developers distributing apps in China that are no higher than overall rates in other markets,” the company said in its announcement.