Apple Slashes Fees for Mini App Developers
▼ Summary
– Apple is launching a program for mini app developers that reduces in-app purchase fees to 15%, half the standard 30% rate.
– Mini apps are self-contained experiences built with HTML5 and JavaScript that operate within other apps like WeChat, Telegram, or Discord.
– The program follows Apple’s agreement with Tencent to apply the 15% commission to WeChat’s mini apps, announced just hours earlier.
– This move may help Apple address antitrust pressure from the Department of Justice, which accused it of stifling super apps.
– Apple states the program aims to help mini app developers grow their business and increase mini app availability on the App Store.
Apple has rolled out a fresh initiative aimed at developers creating mini applications, significantly cutting the commission it collects on in-app purchases. This new program reduces Apple’s standard fee by half, dropping it to just 15 percent instead of the typical 30 percent rate applied to most other developers. Announced recently, the initiative is designed specifically for creators of these compact, self-contained software experiences.
Mini apps are typically built using web technologies like HTML5 and JavaScript and operate entirely within a host application. This format has seen massive adoption in markets such as China, where platforms like Tencent’s WeChat integrate numerous services, including ride-hailing, food delivery, and payment processing, directly inside the main app. Other popular services like Telegram and Discord also support mini apps, while social networks including Snapchat and TikTok have been testing similar functionalities.
The timing of this announcement is notable, coming shortly after Apple finalized a deal with Tencent that allows the tech giant to collect a 15 percent commission from purchases made inside WeChat’s mini apps. This development occurs against a backdrop of increasing regulatory scrutiny. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit alleging that Apple suppresses the growth of “super apps,” which are platforms hosting a wide variety of services or mini programs. By introducing this reduced fee structure, Apple may be attempting to address some of these competition concerns.
In its official statement, Apple emphasized that the program is intended to support developers who host mini apps, helping them expand their operations and increase the overall availability of such apps on the App Store. This strategic shift could encourage more developers to build and distribute mini apps, potentially enriching the ecosystem while responding to external legal and market pressures.
(Source: The Verge)
