Apple has officially lowered App Store commission rates for developers selling on the mainland China storefront, cutting fees on paid apps and in-app purchases and reducing select program rates as well. The change applies to the App Store on iOS and iPadOS and follows discussions with China’s regulator, according to an Apple Developer notice.
The biggest update is to the standard commission rate. For paid apps and Apple in-app purchases in mainland China, the fee is now 25%, down from the long-standing 30% rate. For many developers, that’s an immediate improvement in margins and a clearer incentive to keep investing in iPhone and iPad app development for the Chinese market.
Apple also reduced several lower-tier commissions. Eligible developers in the App Store Small Business Program and the Mini Apps Partner Program will now pay 12%, down from 15%. The same 12% rate also applies to auto-renewable subscriptions after the first year, which can make long-term subscription businesses more sustainable by keeping more revenue with the developer over time.
The updated rates took effect on March 15, 2026. Apple also clarified an important detail for developers: there’s no requirement to sign new terms before that date in order for the lower commission rates to apply. In other words, developers don’t need to take any action to start receiving the new pricing. At the same time, Apple noted that its Apple Developer Program License Agreement has been revised to reflect the policy update, and developers can log in to review and accept the new terms.
In explaining the decision, Apple positioned the lower commissions as part of a broader effort to keep the iOS and iPadOS ecosystem attractive to developers in China. The company said it remains focused on “fair and transparent terms” and emphasized that App Store rates in China will be “no higher than the overall rate levels in other markets.”
For developers targeting mainland China—whether selling paid apps, monetizing with in-app purchases, or building subscription products—this commission cut could meaningfully change revenue forecasts and growth plans, especially at scale where a few percentage points can translate into significant savings.
