Changes for apps in the European Union - Support - Apple Developer

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Changes for apps in the European Union

Since 2024, Apple has made updates to iOS, iPadOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union (EU) to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), giving developers more options in the EU — including the ability to process payments for digital goods and services outside of Apple In-App Purchase, distribute on alternative app marketplaces, operate alternative app marketplaces, distribute directly from their website, and use alternative browser engines.

What’s new

The Apple Developer Program License Agreement, updated on August 18, 2026, introduces new business terms and policies for apps distributed in the EU, following close collaboration with the European Commission. Members of the Apple Developer Program can now review and agree to the updated terms. The primary updates, which go into effect on October 1, 2026, include:

Unified business terms. Apps distributed in the EU are now subject to a single set of terms, under which Apple charges a commission on the sale of digital goods and services. The Core Technology Fee, a per-install fee for developers who achieve extraordinary scale, will be replaced by the Core Technology Commission, a simple 5% commission on digital transactions in apps distributed outside the App Store. The new terms also eliminate the Initial Acquisition Fee and Store Services Fee.

Alternative payments and Apple In-App Purchase. Apps distributed in EU storefronts can now offer alternative payment methods and offers alongside Apple In-App Purchase. To help ensure a consistent user experience, developers must maintain their choice of payment options for 12 months.

Child safety protections. New child safety requirements apply to apps that use alternative payment options on the App Store.

Eligibility for operating an alternative app marketplace and Web Distribution. Eligibility requirements for both have been expanded to include additional options. Companies are no longer required to have a legal entity or be established in the EU to operate an alternative app marketplace or use Web Distribution.

Payment options on the App Store

The App Store provides multiple ways for you to offer digital goods and services that customers can discover and enjoy using Apple’s technology and services. In the EU, there are additional options, which include specific business terms for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS apps distributed in EU storefronts.

Apple In-App Purchase. You can continue using Apple In-App Purchase, which is convenient and easy for users. It offers worldwide end-to-end payment processing, foreign currency exchange, tax support, customer service, and more. No changes are required on your part.

Alternative payment options. In addition to Apple In‑App Purchase, you can:

Offer digital goods and services for purchase within your app using an alternative payment processor.

Provide out-of-app offers that direct users to purchase digital goods and services at a destination of your choice — a website, alternative app marketplace, or another app — regardless of whether you use an actionable link.

To provide consistency and clarity for users, developers distributing apps in the EU will select their payment options — Apple In-App Purchase, alternative payment processing in their app, linking to the web, or a combination — and must maintain those options for 12 months.

Also, reader apps distributed in the EU may promote out-of-app offers for digital goods and services without an actionable link, regardless of whether they use the StoreKit External Link Account Entitlement. These offers are subject to requirements about where they may be displayed. Learn more.

For details, see Payment options on the App Store in the EU.

Child safety protections for alternative payments on the App Store

The App Store is designed to be a safe and trusted place for everyone, including children. Apple has worked with the European Commission to implement child safety measures for alternative payments similar to those already in place in other markets.

Apps in the Kids category must place purchase flows that use an alternative payment processor behind a parental gate, and cannot provide an out-of-app offer to purchase on a website.

For users under 13 years old , alternative payment purchases must be behind a parental gate, and out-of-app offers are not permitted.

For users 13 years old to 17 years old , both alternative payment processing within the app and out-of-app purchase offers must be behind a parental gate.

In cases where an EU storefront sets an age for parental consent above 13 years old, the same protections apply at the higher age instead of 13. For example, in some storefronts the protections apply to users under 16 (instead of under 13) and 16 to 17 (instead of 13 to 17). To find specific age requirements, see Region-specific rules...