Apple lowers App Store commissions for 'mini apps'
Apple slicing App Store commissions in half for 'mini apps' feels like a savvy power move, mixing developer goodwill with strategic ecosystem expansion. By halving the usual 30% cut to 15%, Apple isn't just giving developers a break—they're encouraging the growth of these web-tech-based mini apps nested inside bigger apps, which could reshape how we interact with software on iOS. It's the kind of tweak that's subtle but might just spur a wave of innovation and tighter integration.
The new Mini Apps Partner Program, announced on November 13, 2025, targets developers hosting mini apps built on web technologies like HTML5 and JavaScript within native apps. Eligible developers who comply with Apple's API and payment system requirements qualify for the reduced 15% commission rate on in-app purchases, down from the standard 30%. This program aims to support developer growth and enhance user privacy and transparency, reflecting Apple's evolving approach to mini apps—a category they've supported since 2017 but now incentivize more aggressively. Whether developers embrace this program will depend on how much the financial incentive offsets the compliance workload, but it's clear Apple is setting the stage to elevate mini apps in their ecosystem.
