Apple hit with antitrust complaint by Chinese developers over App Store fees

A coalition of 48 iOS developers in China has filed an antitrust complaint with the State Administration for Market Regulation, alleging that Apple’s App Store commission rates are unfair and excessively high. The developers claim Apple failed to honor a promise to offer the lowest commission in the Chinese market and accuse the company of abusing its dominant position.

Apple’s standard commission for paid apps and in‑app purchases was reduced from 30% to 25% in March, with a further cut to 12% for certain small‑business programs, but the developers argue the reductions are insufficient. They cite recent fee reforms in Brazil and Japan as precedents and demand that China allow alternative app stores, which could lower effective fees to around 5%.

The complaint follows earlier disputes in China, including a 2017 antitrust filing, a 2021 consumer lawsuit rejected in 2024, and a new legal action in 2025. Apple is also facing parallel scrutiny worldwide, such as a €500 million fine from the European Union for breaching the Digital Markets Act and ongoing investigations in the United States and other jurisdictions.