EU App Store terms get simpler, but Apple keeps a commission on every route

Apple will change the terms governing apps distributed in the European Union on October 1, 2026. The company is replacing several fees with a unified model and allowing more combinations of In-App Purchase, alternative payment and links to the web.

The short answer

Reduced rates of 15% or 10% apply to selected small developers and subscriptions. Every publisher should calculate its case from the final contract, taxes and payment-provider costs.

Core Technology Fee ends, outside fees do not

The per-install charge becomes a 5% Core Technology Commission on digital transactions inside apps distributed outside the App Store. That reduces exposure to a high number of free installations, but preserves Apple revenue when a sale happens elsewhere.

An app without paid digital goods may see limited impact. A subscription service distributed on the web must determine which transactions enter the base and how they are attributed to the app.

Multiple payment methods in one app

An EU app may present Apple In-App Purchase alongside a third-party method. Apple requires developers to select a configuration and keep it for 12 months. Pricing experimentation therefore becomes a durable decision rather than a one-week test.

Alternative payment also adds responsibility for fraud, refunds, support, VAT, invoicing and potentially PCI compliance. A lower headline commission only creates savings after these costs.

Broader web distribution eligibility

Apple is expanding who can distribute an app directly from a website. Public companies, organizations backed by established investors, audited businesses, governments, schools and nonprofits can qualify, alongside other financial criteria.

Apps distributed outside the store still go through notarization. That baseline check is not equivalent to App Store review and does not transfer commerce or customer-support responsibility to Apple.

Specific protections for minors

Kids-category apps cannot link to web checkout. Users under 18 will encounter a parental gate before alternative payment or an external purchase link, while users under 13 cannot follow that type of link.

Teams need to test age, region, failure states and accessibility, then clearly identify who processes payment and data. A confusing interface can erase the value of choice.

What developers should do

Model 12-month scenarios including Apple commission, PSP fees, fraud, refunds, support and conversion. Review the new legal terms and prepare telemetry that distinguishes each route without collecting unnecessary data.

The rules become more legible, not simple. Apple opens additional distribution and payment paths while retaining a commission in every model. The right option depends on basket size, brand trust and the real cost of operating payments.