Apple has announced significant changes to its App Store fees and rules in the European Union following antitrust orders from EU regulators. The tech giant will now charge developers a reduced processing fee of 20% for in-app purchases (or as low as 13% for small businesses) when using Apple’s payment system. More notably, developers directing users to external payment platforms will face substantially lower fees ranging from 5% to 15%, and can now use unlimited external payment links.
These modifications come as Apple attempts to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and avoid potential daily fines of 5% of its global revenue – approximately €50 million ($58 million) per day. The company has already paid a €500 million ($580 million) fine in April for non-compliance. While implementing these changes, Apple expressed disagreement with the EU’s requirements, stating it plans to appeal the decision.
The European Commission confirmed it will carefully review Apple’s new policies to ensure they meet DMA standards. “The Commission considers it particularly important to obtain the views of market operators and interested third parties before deciding on next steps,” officials stated. This suggests further adjustments may be required depending on feedback from developers and competitors.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, whose company previously sued Apple over antitrust violations, strongly criticized the changes on social media platform X. He called Apple’s new fee structure “a mockery of fair competition” that leaves apps using alternative payments “not only taxed but commercially crippled.” Apple has not yet responded to Sweeney’s comments. The ongoing conflict highlights the growing tension between tech giants and regulators over control of digital marketplaces.
