Apple Cuts App Store Commission for Mini Apps to 15%

Apple said Thursday it will reduce App Store commissions for “mini apps” on iPhones and other devices, lowering fees from as high as 30% to 15% for developers that adopt certain Apple technologies, including its user age-range declaration system.

Mini apps—typically game titles or lightweight services embedded within a larger host app—are especially widespread in China, where platforms like Tencent and Alipay offer extensive in-app ecosystems. The model is gaining traction in the U.S. as well, with OpenAI announcing last month that it will introduce mini apps inside its ChatGPT app.

Under current App Store rules, mini-app developers pay Apple’s commission directly on digital sales; revenue-sharing arrangements between host apps and mini-app developers are handled privately between the two parties.

Apple’s decision to tie reduced commissions to its age-declaration technology comes amid a broader dispute with U.S. states and tech rivals including Meta Platforms over age-verification requirements for digital platforms.

Several U.S. states are advancing legislation that would mandate age verification for app users. Meta argues such checks should be performed at the app-store level by operators like Google and Apple.

Apple counters that mandated verification would force it to invade adult users’ privacy, proposing instead that app developers be allowed to rely on a self-declared age range, with parental approval required for younger users.