Apple is scrapping its complicated EU App Store fee structure for something a lot easier to explain.
Apple announced it is overhauling how it charges developers in the European Union, according to the company's own statement. The old per-install fee for apps distributed outside the App Store is gone, replaced with a flat 5% commission, Apple said. The company is also loosening the rules around running alternative app marketplaces, making it simpler for developers to operate outside Apple's own storefront. Apple has not detailed exactly which restrictions are being dropped or when the changes take effect.
This isn't Apple's first adjustment to its EU fee rules since regulators forced it to open the platform to alternative app stores. A flat percentage is easier for developers to model than a fee tied to install counts, which could spike costs for apps that go viral without earning revenue. It also suggests Apple has decided that simplifying the rulebook is cheaper than fighting Brussels line by line.
Whether the new 5% rate actually beats what developers paid before depends on how popular their app is, and Apple hasn't said if this pricing logic is coming to any other market.