A group of 48 China-based iOS developers filed a formal antitrust complaint against Apple on Tuesday.
They are asking regulators to investigate App Store commission rates, which they argue are unfairly high compared to what the company charges in other countries.
The complaint, reported by the South China Morning Post, was submitted to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation.
The developers argue that Apple collects a 25% cut on paid apps and in-app purchases in China, down from 30% following a March reduction
However, that figure still sits well above what developers in Brazil now pay, following Apple’s separate fee restructuring announced last week.
What Brazil Has That China Doesn’t
Apple’s new Brazil structure sets commissions at between 10% and 21% per transaction, plus a 5% payment processing fee.
Brazilian developers can also distribute iOS apps through third-party marketplaces for a 5% fee. Apple made comparable changes in Japan late last year.
The Chinese developers point to these adjustments as evidence that Apple can reduce its rates further when regulatory or legal pressure demands it.
Their complaint goes further than just asking for Brazil-style pricing. The group wants Apple to allow third-party app stores in China, similar to what Apple already permits in the European Union under the Digital Markets Act.
Under that model, the developers contend Apple’s effective commission could fall to around 5%.
A Pattern of Complaints Going Back Years
This is not the first time Chinese developers or legal firms have challenged Apple’s App Store terms.
A Beijing law firm raised similar concerns about app removals and fees in 2017. A Chinese consumer sued over App Store fees in 2021, though a Shanghai court rejected that claim in 2024.
Another law firm filed suit again in 2025. None of those efforts produced the fee reductions developers were seeking.
Smaller developers in China do pay less. Apple’s Small Business Program and Mini Apps Partner program carry a 12% commission rate, down from 15% in March, as part of the broader rate cut. Subscription renewals also fall under the 12% tier.
Apple’s Regulatory Exposure Is Growing
Apple reported earlier this month that its App Store ecosystem generated $1.4 trillion in developer billings and sales in 2025.
China accounted for the largest share of that total at $562 billion, making it by far the most valuable single market in the App Store’s global footprint.
That scale gives the Chinese complaint a financial context that the developers are likely to emphasize before regulators.
Apple is simultaneously managing App Store-related legal exposure on multiple fronts. The European Commission fined the company 500 million euros, roughly $572 million, last year for violating the Digital Markets Act, and Apple has appealed that ruling.
In the United States, a court ordered Apple to allow developers to include external payment links following its prolonged legal battle with Epic Games.
