EU developers push Digital Markets Act enforcement on Apple fees

A group of 20 app developers and consumer organizations has called on the European Union to enforce its Digital Markets Act (DMA) against Apple, arguing that the company’s fee structure puts European developers at a disadvantage.

The coalition, which includes the Coalition for Apps Fairness (CAF) and companies such as Deezer and Proton, said recent changes by Apple still do not comply with the DMA.

The law, in force since 2023, requires major tech platforms like Apple to allow in-app transactions outside their ecosystem without charging fees.

Earlier this year, the European Commission fined Apple €500 million (US$588 million) for blocking developers from directing users to other payment methods.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Apple’s DMA compliance remains unsettled as the Commission reviews new terms

The European Commission is reviewing Apple’s revised fee structure announced in June 2025 1. It is collecting feedback from developers, payment providers, and other affected stakeholders 1. It has not decided on the new external payment commissions 1. Developers face uncertainty on regulatory risk and timing.
Apple plans to appeal the April 2025 finding that its steering rules breached Article 5(4) of the DMA 2. The €500 million (US$588 million) penalty equals 0.14% of Apple’s annual worldwide turnover 2, which may limit impact.
The Commission must decide if the mix of a 2% initial acquisition fee, a 5% Core Technology Commission (Apple’s charge for access to platform capabilities), plus up to a 13% store services fee meets DMA requirements 3. Industry leaders call the setup complex and possibly unlawful 3.

Payment firms can help EU iOS (Apple’s mobile operating system) developers with Apple’s external payment rules

Apps using StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (Apple’s permission that lets an app link users to the developer’s website to pay) must add the External Purchase Server API (Apple’s interface for reporting off App Store transactions so Apple can calculate commissions) 4 3. This creates demand for tooling that handles link out flows and Strong Customer Authentication under the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2). Providers also need VAT collection, required disclosures, and analytics.
Apple’s rules require system provided disclosure sheets that tell users they transact with the developer, not Apple, and they set specific user experience flows 4. Payment providers who grasp these requirements and Apple’s latest fee math can design products that help developers avoid violations and reduce drop off.
Combined fees can reach up to 20% plus processor charges of 2-3% and fraud prevention costs 3. Teams need clear cost benefit tools, and vendors with transparent pricing and implementation support can focus on high volume, established apps that gain from switching.