By Paul Allen in strategic leverage — 14 Nov 2025

Why Apple Just Halved Commissions for Mini App Makers

Most app stores charge 30% commission on transactions. Apple just slashed that to 15% for qualifying mini app makers, effectively cutting fees in half.

The tech giant introduced this program in November 2025 to incentivize developers building smaller-scale apps within its ecosystem. But the real move is about shifting the platform revenue model to unlock rapid app experimentation and ecosystem expansion.

This matters because reducing the commission lowers the barrier for developers to build and monetize niche mini apps without paying standard store tolls. At scale, that boosts the volume and diversity of apps driving usage across iOS and macOS.

How Apple's Commission Cut Changes Developer Incentives

Apple’s standard App Store commission of 30% on transactions has long been a friction point for developers, especially smaller teams or indie makers. The company’s new program targets mini apps—lightweight, focused applications that integrate seamlessly with Apple services.

By halving commissions to 15%, Apple drastically improves mini app economics. Developers keep double the revenue on qualifying transactions, shifting the main constraint from payment fees to product-market fit and distribution.

This encourages a larger number of smaller, more experimental apps. Developers can afford to build iterative mini apps without the usual revenue pressure imposed by higher commissions. It also tilts the balance toward platform-native solutions rather than web or cross-platform alternatives.

A Constraint Shift From Commission Cost to User Engagement and Integration

Apple’s move reframes the fundamental business constraint for mini app developers. Previously, the high 30% commission acted as a cost floor that limited feasible pricing and discounted volume models. Now, the chief bottleneck shifts to user discovery, retention, and seamless integration within Apple’s ecosystem.

Lower commissions remove a significant friction layer in monetizing microtransactions or subscription tiers within mini apps. This improves the leverage of Apple's ecosystem: the cost to onboard and monetize users inside apps drops dramatically, while the user-side experience gains from consistent interface and payment mechanics.

This is reminiscent of ecosystems that shifted from commission-heavy tolls to developer-friendly terms to ignite app growth—unlocking compounding leverage from a wider variety of applications. Similar patterns drove growth in other platforms but Apple’s native mini app focus is a unique twist leveraging its tight hardware and software integration.

Why Apple Didn’t Just Cut Fees Across The Board

Apple’s selective cut, limited to qualifying mini app transactions, is a positioning strategy that protects its overall App Store revenue while incubating a new category of apps. This contrasts with a blanket commission cut which would reduce overall platform income and possibly upset larger developers.

The choice to encourage mini apps specifically exploits Apple’s existing strength: a system designed for smooth, fast app consumption integrated with core OS features like widgets, widgets galleries, or app clips. Mini apps act as lightweight extensions, lowering discovery and installation frictions.

This way, Apple flips the constraint from transaction revenue extraction to platform stickiness and ecosystem breadth. The fee reduction works like a lever unlocking a new class of applications that benefit from seamless integration rather than heavy upfront investment or large development scale.

Comparing Apple’s New Model to Other Platforms

The commission strategy differs sharply from Google Play Store which offers tiered rates but has faced criticism for complex fee structures and less strict ecosystem integration. Apple’s approach is simpler and harnesses its hardware/software ecosystem advantage to offer a clear economic incentive.

Unlike marketplaces like Temu that compete primarily on price and volume, Apple focuses on cultivating high-quality mini apps that deliver integrated user experiences. The lower commission serves as a direct economic repositioning to tilt developer efforts toward its native ecosystem.

This echoes other tech incumbents fostering developer segments through targeted fees or platform benefits, as explored in our analysis of Shopify’s SEO system and Amazon’s leverage through workforce automation.

What This Means For Developers and Operators

Developers should view Apple's commission cut as a signal to rethink product roadmaps. Mini apps become a viable venue to launch quickly, monetize efficiently at 15%, and leverage Apple's distribution channels without paying standard fees.

Operators can also anticipate a rise in mini app ecosystems where automation and integration reduce the need for heavy marketing spend. This mirrors patterns where platforms convert existing traffic into compoundable revenue engines, shifting constraints from acquisition cost to retention and ecosystem fit.

For builders focused on leverage, Apple’s policy changes lower monetary barriers and highlight the growing importance of ecosystem-native services over general app store presence. Understanding this shift will shape how developers allocate resources and design products to succeed.

For developers and entrepreneurs inspired by Apple's push for mini apps, no-code app builders like AppMysite provide an accessible way to create native apps without deep technical overhead. Leveraging platforms such as AppMysite allows creators to rapidly build and monetize apps within ecosystems like iOS, aligning perfectly with the new lower commission incentives Apple offers. Learn more about AppMysite →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Apple’s new commission rate for qualifying mini app makers?

Apple reduced its commission rate from 30% to 15% for qualifying mini app transactions, effectively halving the fees for developers building smaller-scale apps within its ecosystem.

Why did Apple cut commissions only for mini apps and not all App Store apps?

Apple's selective cut protects overall App Store revenue while encouraging a new category of lightweight mini apps that integrate deeply with its hardware and software ecosystem, balancing revenue protection with ecosystem growth.

How does Apple’s commission cut impact developer economics?

By lowering commissions to 15%, developers keep double the revenue on qualifying transactions, decreasing payment fee constraints and enabling more experimental and iterative mini app development with less financial pressure.

What business constraint does Apple’s commission reduction shift for developers?

The main constraint shifts from high commission costs to user discovery, retention, and seamless integration within Apple’s ecosystem, focusing developer efforts on engagement rather than fees.

How does Apple’s new commission model compare to Google Play Store?

Apple’s model is simpler and focuses on native ecosystem integration with a straightforward 15% rate for mini apps, while Google Play offers tiered rates but has faced criticism for complex fees and less strict integration.

What advantages do mini apps have with Apple’s commission changes?

Mini apps benefit from lower fees, reduced barriers to monetization, and seamless integration with core OS features like widgets and app clips, allowing quicker launches and enhanced platform stickiness.

What should developers consider in response to Apple’s commission changes?

Developers should rethink product roadmaps to leverage the 15% commission, focusing on building efficient, integrated mini apps that monetize well and utilize Apple’s distribution channels effectively.

Are there tools that help build apps aligned with Apple’s mini app incentives?

No-code platforms like AppMysite offer accessible options for creators to build native apps rapidly without deep technical skills, aligning with Apple’s lower commission incentives for mini apps.