Steve Troughton-Smith
It sounds like Apple is extending the Core Technology Fee to *all apps in the EU*
Jun 26, 2025 at 7:42pmIvory for Mac
Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithJun 26, 2025

So, upfront CTF cost is gone. For developers in Apple's Small Business Program, there is a 0% 'acquisition fee', 5% commission (and if you ship on the App Store or use IAP, that bumps to 10%), +5% Core Technology Commission. Total 15%, same as today

If you're distributing outside the App Store, and you're in the SBS, somehow you've got to give Apple 5% of your app revenue.

If you're not in the SBS, you pay a 2% acquisition fee on all transactions, 13% commission to exist, +5% CTC. Total 20%

Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithJun 26, 2025

If you're using the External Link entitlement, you must use Apple's API for linking out (so they can track you), and your transactions are also subject to a +5% Core Technology Commission.

(Total commission using external links: 15% for small business program, 20% for everybody else)

Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithJun 26, 2025

I think, based on my read of this, that if you're a small developer on the App Store (and can qualify for the SBS), and want to also provide your apps on an external storefront with some other payment service, your total commission will be 10%, but with no way of Apple tracking that I expect you'll be self-reporting your revenue for them.

Apple retains audit rights for all developers in the EU under these terms.

Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithJun 26, 2025
It's not zero, but these terms are way more reasonable than the Core Technology Fee bullshit. But it also means that there is, from my understanding, no option for alternative distribution that is completely free. The lowest amount you will pay is 10%
Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithJun 26, 2025
Just to confuse matters, it looks like if you remain in the App Store and have a paid-upfront app, your app purchase commission fees are either 20% or 13% (small business program), down from the 30% and 15% today?
Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithJun 26, 2025
That is a lot of legalese, chat, but I think this model might actually work. Unless there's some poison pill hidden somewhere
Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithJun 26, 2025

There is a long table explaining what the difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2 is. If you choose to pay the reduced store services rate, you lose: expedited app review, automatic updates, school/business store, you only show in App Store search for an exact match, no user reviews, no in-app events, no recommendations, you will never be featured by Editorial, have no access to promo codes, and no analytics. It really is a stripped-down version of App Store hosting

https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/store-services-tiers

Store Services tiers in the EU - Reference - App Store Connect - Help - Apple Developer

Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithJun 26, 2025
For your trouble, you can pay a reduced rate of 10% commission to Apple, or 12% if you're a large company. (How generous.)
Show threadEric JenningsJun 26, 2025
@stroughtonsmith No user reviews? Figure some people would pay extra for that feature.
Show threadLars WikmanJun 26, 2025

@stroughtonsmith I would not be shocked if the EU goes "nah" at this as well. The proceedings have not gone particularly smoothly, I'd be feeling a bit fed up if I were a governing body.

I don't think they necessarily see it as Apple's right to charge for sales outside the App Store. I don't.

We'll see.

Show threadRiley Testut Jun 27, 2025
@stroughtonsmith yup that’s what I believe as well, and it seems to align with what we’ve heard from EC over past few months
Show threadLeonickJun 27, 2025
@stroughtonsmith which is stupid, if you distribute outside the AppStore you shouldn’t have to pay Apple anything more than the already charge for you to be a developer, that fee should cover their ”ongoing investments in the tools, technologies, and services”, especially when you factor in the value apps provide to their platform.
Show threadGregoryJun 27, 2025
@Leonick @stroughtonsmith the "ongoing investments in the tools, technologies, and services" should be covered by the hardware sales and subscription services and many other things that Apple still profits from. Or maybe, you know, they could make the app store a compelling, competitive offering for developers, instead of forcing them to use it or not having an iOS app at all.
Show threadGregoryJun 27, 2025
@Leonick @stroughtonsmith or, to put it the other way, no users will get sad if Apple stops releasing OS updates every year
Show threadGregoryJun 27, 2025
@stroughtonsmith this feels like it would still not satisfy the EU. Their intention is clearly for iOS to be like Android or Mac — such that you get to distribute your app however you want and do whatever you want in it, without Apple being involved in any of this at all. Yet Apple still insists on having their finger in that pie.
Show threadMichael StancliftJun 26, 2025
@stroughtonsmith
Show threadMarcin KrzyzanowskiJun 26, 2025
@stroughtonsmith it is CTC now, and it's 5% https://mastodon.social/@krzyzanowskim/114751322897032012
Show threadMieszko ŚlusarczykJun 26, 2025
@krzyzanowskim @stroughtonsmith is that 5% going to replace the 30/15% tax?
Show threadMarcin KrzyzanowskiJun 26, 2025
@spitfire @stroughtonsmith no. and from the document it doesn't say it is for *all apps in the EU*, just for those that "communicates and promotes offers for digital goods or services for end users at a destination of your choice, including steering to non-App Store In-App Purchase transactions"
Show threadMieszko ŚlusarczykJun 26, 2025
@krzyzanowskim @stroughtonsmith oh, so for these apps using external purchase/payment systems? Still better than 30/15 I guess, and you get to own your customer relationship if you choose to do so.
Show threadMarcin KrzyzanowskiJun 26, 2025
@spitfire @stroughtonsmith idk. it looks like 21% with other fees. But that did not change. the only change is CTF $0.50 to CTC 5%
Show threadMarcin KrzyzanowskiJun 26, 2025

@spitfire @stroughtonsmith my napkin calculations says CTC is actually more expensive for paid apps than CTF.

I wonder how that comply with the law ;)

Show threadMieszko ŚlusarczykJun 26, 2025
@krzyzanowskim @stroughtonsmith that wouldn’t be suprising. And it definitely won’t be compliant. They’ll never learn I guess
Show threadMieszko ŚlusarczykJun 26, 2025
@krzyzanowskim @stroughtonsmith looks like 20/15 vs 30/15. And then you have to account for payment processors and running your own stuff I guess.