The European Commission has required Apple to make a series of additional changes under the Digital Markets Act:
Communication and promotion of offers
- Today we are introducing updated terms that allow developers with apps in the European Union storefronts of the App Store to communicate and promote offers for purchase of digital goods or services available in a destination of their choice. The destination can be a website, alternative app marketplace, or another app, and can be accessed outside of the app or within the app via a web view or native experience.
- App Store apps that communicate and promote offers for digital goods or services will be subject to new business conditions for these transactions – an initial acquisition fee, store service fee, and for apps on the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum, the Core Technology Commission (CTC). The CTC reflects the value Apple provides to developers through ongoing investments in tools, technologies and services that enable them to build and share innovative apps with users.
- Music streaming apps in the App Store in the European Economic Area (EEA) that want to use the Music Streaming Services Authorization (EEA) can use these options.
Update to terms of business for apps in the European Union
- From January 1, 2026, Apple plans to move to a single business model in the EU for all developers. Under this single business model, Apple will transition from the Core Technology Fee (CTF) to the CTC on digital goods or services. The CTC applies to digital goods or services sold by apps distributed from the App Store, Web Distribution and/or alternative marketplaces.
- Apps currently subject to the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU will continue to be subject only to the CTF until the transition to the CTC is fully implemented next year. At that time, qualifying transactions will be subject to the CTC, and the CTF will no longer apply. Additional details on this transition will be provided at a later date.
User experience update
- Starting with iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, iOS and iPadOS offer an updated user experience in the EU for installing alternative marketplaces or apps from a developer’s website. Additionally, later this year, we will provide an API that will allow developers to initiate the download of alternatively distributed apps that they publish from within their app.
To learn more, see Communication and promotion of offers in the App Store in the EU. To read the full terms, see the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU or the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement Addendum for EU Apps. You can also request a 30-minute online appointment to ask questions and provide feedback on these changes.