Apple Cuts EU App Store Commission by Four Points Amid Regulatory Pressure

Apple has announced a significant change to its business terms for apps in the European Union. The company will reduce its standard App Store commission from 30% to 26%, effective October 1, as part of a new set of rules that also includes a flat 5% commission rate for apps distributed outside the App Store.

The move is seen as a response to regulatory pressure from the European Commission under the Digital Markets Act. In April 2025, Apple was fined 500 million euros ($579 million) by the Commission for preventing developers from steering customers to cheaper offers outside the App Store.

Despite the commission reduction affecting revenue, analysts view the de-escalation of regulatory risk as a positive development for Apple's stock valuation. The services segment, which includes the App Store, generated $30.7 billion in revenue in the fiscal third quarter of 2026, up 12% year over year.

The change does not affect all apps equally, with smaller developers and those using alternative payment processing paying lower rates. Members of Apple's Small Business Program, Mini Apps, and Video Partner programs also pay reduced commissions.