Apple cuts China App Store commission fees after government pressure

Apple said late on Thursday it will lower App Store commission fees in mainland China, cutting the standard rate from 30% to 25% from March 15, 2026. The company announced the change on its developers' blog and said it follows discussions with the Chinese regulator.

Fees for in‑app purchases tied to Apple's small business and mini‑apps partner programs will fall from 15% to 12%. "Mini apps" are smaller applications that run inside larger platforms such as Tencent’s WeChat; the change is presented as a breakthrough for Chinese developers and operators of super apps including Tencent and ByteDance.

State-owned Economic Daily estimated the cut could save Chinese developers more than 6bn yuan a year and reduce consumer costs by as much as nearly 1bn yuan through lower prices on subscriptions, game recharges, live broadcast tips and other services. Industry advisers say Apple was pressured by the IT ministry and other departments, and the move takes effect on World Consumer Rights Day.

China, mainland China

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