Why Does Apple Charge 30% and When Does It Not Apply?

Apple “tax” and In‑App Purchase (IAP) commission

Apple charges a 30 % commission on transactions that are processed through its In‑App Purchase (IAP) system. The commission applies to digital goods, subscriptions, and features that unlock functionality within an app.

Transactions exempt from the 30 % commission

Goods and services classified as “outside the app” per clause 3.1.3(e) of the App Store Review Guidelines (e.g., train tickets sold via 12306). These may use alternative payment methods such as WeChat Pay, Alipay, or Apple Pay without the 30 % fee.

Physical goods or services that do not unlock app functionality are also exempt.

Transactions that must use IAP

Access to premium content, such as paid articles or full‑version features in a WeChat public‑account, is considered “access to premium content” and must be sold through IAP, incurring the commission.

Virtual currency or “coins” used to unlock content inside the app also falls under IAP.

Relevant agreements

Apple Developer Program License Agreement – states that items sold outside the app cannot be processed via IAP; developers may integrate other payment solutions.

Paid App Agreement – defines the standard 30 % share for paid apps.

After one year of automatic renewal the commission may drop to 15 %; small‑business developers may qualify for a 15 % rate from the start.

Other payment options

Apple Pay is a native payment method that does not incur the 30 % commission.

Recent guideline updates (e.g., EU StoreKit requirements) allow non‑IAP payment options for certain use cases.

Key take‑aways

The fee structure depends on how a transaction is categorized under the App Store policies.

Digital unlocks and premium content are subject to the commission; physical goods, external services, and “outside‑app” items are exempt.

Developers must reference the App Store Review Guidelines (especially clause 3.1.3(e)) and the relevant Apple agreements to determine the correct payment flow.

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