Apple is far from a small target, and a group of China-based iOS developers is taking aim.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, the group of 48 developers filed an antitrust complaint against the company. The complaint was filed with China’s regulator, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).
According to the complaint, Apple did not follow through on its promise to offer the Chinese market the lowest commission rate. This is the amount that Apple takes for apps and subscriptions available through its App Store.
In China, Apple dropped its commission rate for paid apps and in-app purchases from 30 percent to 25 percent. It also dropped the commission on subscription renewals from 15 percent to 12 percent.
The complaint claims these cuts do not go far enough. Developers argue Apple can go lower, since the company lowered its commission rate in Brazil down to between 10 percent and 21 percent.
Developers also contend that, by allowing third-party app stores in China, the commission rate would effectively go down to as low as 5 percent.
Apple’s App Store has been a money generator for developers – the company said it generated over $1.4 trillion in developer billings and sales in 2025. However, the company has faced mounting regulatory pressure due to a lack of alternative app stores on iOS.
In response, Apple opened up iOS to allow for other app stores. The company still charges a small fees for any iOS apps sold on other marketplaces, however.
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