Apple said it will lower the commission it takes from App Store purchases in mainland China, reducing the standard rate to 25% from 30% and cutting rates for developers in its small business and mini apps partner programs to 12% from 15%. The company said the changes take effect on Sunday.
The adjustment covers in-app purchases and paid transactions and applies to both domestic and international developers whose apps are available on the China App Store. "Mini apps" are smaller applications that run inside larger platforms, such as Tencent's WeChat.
Chinese state media and industry reports estimate the fee cut will save developers more than 6 billion yuan annually and could lower prices for digital goods and services for consumers, potentially saving nearly 1 billion yuan a year on items such as subscriptions, game recharges and live-broadcast tips.
The move follows what developers and analysts say was pressure from Chinese regulators and talks with the IT ministry. Industry adviser Rich Bishop said authorities have asked Apple to reduce fees and may push for stricter oversight in future, including requiring Apple to collect App Store revenues in China.
The decision comes amid global scrutiny of the so-called "Apple Tax." Regulators in the EU introduced rules in 2024 that cut commissions to 10–17% for many developers, Apple permits alternative payment methods in the U.S., and Google recently trimmed Android developer fees worldwide. Chinese consumers filed an antitrust complaint about Apple's fee structure last October, and Apple has previously removed apps such as VPNs from its China store at regulators' request.