Apple’s long-debated 30% App Store commission rate continues to face intense pressure from regulators worldwide. In a significant concession aimed at appeasing Chinese authorities, Apple has announced that it is lowering its standard commission rate to 25% in China.

Major Cuts to App Store Commissions in China

The friction between Chinese regulators and Apple over commission deductions has been a recurring theme in recent years. This pressure intensified publicly following the customs tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Trump in 2025. After nearly a year of quiet behind-the-scenes negotiations, Apple announced the new rates via its developer blog.

According to the official statement, the new commission rates will take effect on March 15. Under this decision, the standard 30% rate applied to in-app purchases and paid app transactions will drop to 25%. Furthermore, the rate for the Small Business Program and the Mini-App Partnership Program—popular among China’s “super apps”—will be reduced from 15% to 12%. This lower rate will also apply to auto-renewing in-app subscriptions after the first year.

The tech giant stated its commitment to making iOS and iPadOS the best ecosystems and business opportunities for Chinese developers. Apple emphasized that it remains dedicated to fair and transparent terms for all developers and guaranteed that rates in the Chinese market will not be higher than in other international markets.

Implementation and Future Outlook

The new rates will be applied automatically within the current system; however, developers must sign the updated terms and conditions to benefit. Whether this move will completely prevent further regulatory actions from China remains to be seen.

Do you find Apple’s commission reduction sufficient? At what level do you think app store deductions should be to remain fair? Share your thoughts with us!