Apple announced on August 18, 2026, that alternative app stores in the European Union will be charged a 5% commission on in-app purchases as part of a new fee structure it says will resolve its disagreements with EU regulators over the Digital Markets Act. The tiered system charges 26% for purchases made through Apple's own payment system, 20% for apps using their own payment processing, and 15% for apps linking to an external website, while apps distributed through third-party stores or the web pay just 5%, a Core Technology Commission, with some fees cuttable in half through Apple's programs. Apple said the new structure resolves its dispute with the European Commission and that it worked with regulators to add child-safety measures like parental purchase restrictions. For the first time since 2023, Apple didn't highlight the App Store as a top driver of services growth in its most recent quarter, according to a Morgan Stanley note, with CFO Kevan Parekh noting slower mobile gaming and business-model changes in certain countries. Only a handful of regions, including Europe, Japan, and Brazil, require Apple to allow third-party app stores, and Apple is separately fighting to restrict web payment links in the US as part of the ongoing Epic Games litigation.
Apple Inc.New EU fee structure reduces commissions on alternative stores, potentially lowering App Store revenue.
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Shell plcEpic Games litigation mentioned as ongoing legal context, but no direct impact from this news.
