Apple to Reduce Affiliate Program Commission Rate to 2.5% for Apps Next Week [Updated] - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple to Reduce Affiliate Program Commission Rate to 2.5% for Apps Next Week [Updated]

by

Apple today emailed its iTunes Affiliate Program members to inform them that its commission rate for all apps and in-app content will be reduced to 2.5 percent on May 1, down from 7 percent, globally.

itunes affiliates
Apple will continue to offer a 7 percent commission rate for all other iTunes content, including music, movies, TV shows, and books. Apple will also continue to offer a one-time 50 percent commission on Apple Music subscriptions.


Through the iTunes Affiliate Program, websites can link to and promote App Store apps and receive a percentage of the sale in return.

Update: Apple now says the reduced 2.5 percent commission rate only applies to iOS in-app purchases.

Related Forum: Mac Apps

Top Rated Comments

ck2875 Avatar
121 months ago
The affiliate program and third-party store parsers would be a lot less necessary if app discovery on the App Store wasn't so horrendous. I basically have to rely on AppShopper & Product Hunt to find price drops & new apps.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Asarien Avatar
121 months ago
Apple must really be strapped for cash.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spyguy10709 Avatar
121 months ago
RIP appshopper
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeyondtheTech Avatar
121 months ago
Haha, funny joke.

I think these ads just aren't effective, that's why they reduced the rate.
Shouldn't it be the opposite? If the advertising isn't effective, raise them so that advertisers would be more enticed to do it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
121 months ago
I make $250/month from promoting my own apps (via various methods) using affiliate links. With the cut down to 2.5%, I'll now be making $85/month. So essentially a $2000 loss per year (basically a mortgage payment for me).

I'm a small developer with one partner. We've been on the App Store for years. Will we survive? Yes. But this hurts small shops like me... every dollar counts.

Considering how many billions of dollars you have in your bank accounts, this is lame Apple.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
121 months ago
Does this mean MacRumors articles can just link to the App Store instead of that AppShopper site?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS App Store General Feature Black

Apple Faces New App Store Complaint From Chinese Developers

Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:51 am PDT by
A group of 48 China-based iOS developers have filed an antitrust complaint against Apple with the country's market regulator over the App Store's commission rates, the South China Morning Post reports. The developers sent an open letter to China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), alleging that Apple failed to deliver on a promise to offer the lowest commission rate to the...
Apple Acquires Award Winning App Play Feature

Apple Acquires Award-Winning App 'Play'

Monday June 29, 2026 7:39 am PDT by
In February, Apple notified the European Commission that it would be acquiring certain assets from and have the right to hire certain employees from Rabbit 3 Times, the company behind the award-winning app design tool Play. The notification was published on the European Commission's website this week, following a four-month waiting period. Play was a Mac and iPhone app that allowed designers ...
app store blue banner uk fixed

UK Pushes Apple to Loosen App Store Payment and NFC Rules

Tuesday June 30, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
The U.K.'s competition regulator has proposed letting app developers direct users to payment options outside Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, in a move aimed at increasing competition and reducing the fees charged by the two companies. As reported by Reuters, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the proposals would remove restrictions that currently prevent U.K....