Apple reduces App Store fee by just 3% for external payments

Apple has rushed to produce updated rules for dating apps in the Netherlands, after the company was fined millions by the country’s competition authority. But the small concessions offered for apps using external payment systems have been criticised by developers, one of whom claims they would be “surprised if a single app ever took them up on this”.

One change addresses the commission Apple charges for in-app transactions, writes 9to5Mac. Developers who use an alternative payment solution rather than Apple’s own will still be charged a commission – but this is reduced from the usual 30% to… 27%.

Apple calls the (slightly) lower figure “a reduced rate that excludes value related to payment processing and related activities”, and indicates that it is inclusive of all taxes. Developers who choose to adopt the system will have to self-report their revenue from their own in-app purchase systems to Apple, and will then be invoiced for the commission.

Developers have poured scorn on the reduction. Marco Arment was amused by what he referred to as “Amazing, ridiculous comedy”, while Steve Troughton-Smith called the move “Absolutely vile”.

Absolutely vile. This says everything about @tim_cook’s Apple and what it thinks of developers. I hope the company gets exactly what it deserves. Everybody on their executive team should be ashamed, and some of them should not be here when it’s all over. We all see you https://t.co/cLOAqWXnU5

— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) February 4, 2022

Apple’s initial response to the Christmas Eve order by the Authority for Consumers and Markets was not approved by the authority. The company was consequently ordered to pay a fine of €5 million (roughly £4.2m) each week until it complies.

This article originally appeared on Macworld Sweden. Translation (using DeepL) and additional reporting by David Price.