Half of Apple's commission is yours to keep if you qualify, but only if you enroll. Here is who qualifies, what "1 million USD in proceeds" really means, and what changes for subscriptions.
By Martin Lasek · Oct 8, 2026 · 5 min read
Apple takes a standard 30% commission on paid apps and in-app purchases. Through the Apple Small Business Program, it takes 15% instead, if you earned up to 1 million USD in proceeds in the previous calendar year or are new to the App Store. It isn't automatic: the Account Holder enrolls in App Store Connect and lists any related developer accounts. The lower rate starts about two weeks after the fiscal month in which Apple approves you.
Both, depending on you. Apple described the standard rate in 2020 as "The App Store’s standard commission rate of 30 percent". The program lowers it:
"It features a reduced commission rate of 15% on paid apps and Apple In-App Purchases, so you can invest more resources into your business to continue building quality apps that customers love."
Subscriptions work a little differently. Normally you receive 70% during a subscriber's first year and 85% once they have a year of paid service. In the program you get the higher share from the start:
"If you’re currently enrolled in the App Store Small Business Program, you receive 85% of the subscription price at each billing cycle (minus applicable taxes), regardless of whether or not the subscription has accumulated one year of paid service."
On a 9.99 USD purchase, that's about 8.49 USD for you in the program instead of 6.99 USD, before taxes. Across 100,000 USD of sales, the difference is 15,000 USD.
"Existing developers who made up to 1 million USD in proceeds in the prior calendar year for all their apps, as well as developers new to the App Store, can qualify for the program and the reduced commission."
The word that matters is proceeds. Apple defines them as "your sales net of Apple’s commission and certain taxes and adjustments", so the limit is what reaches you, not what customers pay. At the 15% rate, 1 million USD in proceeds is roughly 1.18 million USD in sales before taxes. Apple counts the proceeds in USD for the calendar year, across all your apps, and you also have to stay under 1 million USD during the current year.
The limit applies to everything you control, not just one account. When you enroll, you list every Apple Developer Program account that is related to yours. Apple counts an account as associated if:
For each one, Apple asks for its name, its Team ID, the Account Holder's email address and a description of the relationship. App transfers count too: the proceeds of a transferred app are associated with every account that initiated or accepted the transfer that year.
The lower rate doesn't start the day you're approved:
"Your proceeds will be adjusted fifteen (15) days after the end of the fiscal calendar month in which your enrollment is approved. For example, if your enrollment is approved on February 10, 2022, your proceeds are adjusted starting March 14, 2022."
So enroll before your first paid release, not after it. Every sale before the adjustment date is charged at the standard rate.
If you pass 1 million USD in proceeds during the year, Apple says "the standard commission rate will apply to future sales". Sales before that point keep the lower rate. If your proceeds later fall back under the limit for a calendar year, you can qualify for 15% again the year after.
Apple's own method for estimating last year's proceeds:
The program gives back 15% of every sale. Spending it on features nobody asked for is the easiest way to waste it. WishKit lets your users request and vote on features inside your app, so the next version is built around what paying customers want.
30% by default on paid apps and in-app purchases. 15% for members of the App Store Small Business Program, which covers developers with up to 1 million USD in proceeds in the prior calendar year and new developers.
No. The Account Holder has to enroll, accept the latest Paid Apps agreement and list any Associated Developer Accounts.
Proceeds: your sales after Apple's commission and certain taxes and adjustments, converted to USD, across all your apps and associated accounts.
Fifteen days after the end of the fiscal calendar month in which Apple approves your enrollment. Sales before that are charged at the standard rate.
Yes. Members receive 85% of every subscription payment from the first billing cycle, instead of 70% during a subscriber's first year.
The standard rate applies to future sales that year. If your proceeds fall below the limit in a later calendar year, you can qualify again the year after.
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