What Apple takes
Apple’s standard commission on paid apps and in-app purchases is 30%. In the App Store Small Business Program it’s 15%, for developers who earned up to $1 million in proceeds in the prior calendar year (App Store Small Business Program). If you go over, you can re-qualify the year after your proceeds fall back below $1 million.
| 1,000 sales a month | Fees | Fee rate | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.99 · 15% | $148.50 | 15.0% | $841.50 |
| $0.99 · 30% | $297.00 | 30.0% | $693.00 |
| $4.99 · 15% | $748.50 | 15.0% | $4,241.50 |
| $4.99 · 30% | $1,497.00 | 30.0% | $3,493.00 |
| $19.99 · 15% | $2,998.50 | 15.0% | $16,991.50 |
Is the program worth applying for?
If you’re under $1 million, yes, always. It halves Apple’s cut: on $5,000 a month of sales it’s worth $750 a month. Enrollment isn’t automatic, so if you’re paying 30% today and qualify, apply before your next sale.
Apple counts associated accounts toward the limit: an account you hold a majority interest in, or one that holds a majority interest in yours. Splitting apps across company accounts to stay under $1 million doesn’t work.
What 15% vs 30% looks like per sale
Per unit the difference is easy to underestimate:
- $0.99 app: you keep $0.84 at 15% and $0.69 at 30%.
- $9.99 purchase: you keep $8.49 versus $6.99.
That’s a 22% raise on every sale, for filling in a form. Apple’s program page also says the 15% rate applies to paid apps and in-app purchases; prices shown to US customers exclude sales tax, so the calculator works on the price you set (Apple Developer).
If you also sell outside the App Store, compare a card processor such as Stripe, which charges 2.9% + 30¢ per online card payment in the US. On a $9.99 purchase that leaves $9.40 before your own costs.
Selling digital products outside the App Store too? Compare what you’d keep on Gumroad or with Stripe on your own site.