Cupertino: Apple DMA compliance entered a decisive phase on 1 October 2026, when the company’s revised EU App Store terms took effect and the European Commission began watching whether they satisfy the Digital Markets Act. The test follows the €500 million fine the Commission imposed on Apple in April 2025 for blocking developers from telling users about cheaper offers outside the App Store.
The Commission welcomed Apple DMA compliance steps on 18 August 2026. “The Commission welcomes Apple’s changes to their business terms,” the EU executive said, noting that developers can now choose between the App Store, third-party marketplaces and direct web distribution. Brussels is not considering periodic penalty payments for now, and it is monitoring the announced measures instead, according to Courthouse News reporting.
Fees remain the sticking point in the Apple DMA compliance debate. Apple’s unified business terms charge 15% on out-of-app offers made through an actionable link, plus a 5% Core Technology Commission on alternative marketplaces and web distribution, according to a law firm summary of the terms. Apple says the framework cuts complexity and total fees because it drops the initial acquisition fee, the store services fee and the old core technology fee. Developers must keep offering alternative payment links for 12 months.
Critics say Apple DMA compliance still falls short. On 8 September 2026, the Coalition for App Fairness, which has 18 signatories including the European Games Developer Federation, News Media Europe and Euroconsumers, wrote to the Commission. Its letter argues that “Apple’s revised framework does not resolve Apple’s non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act,” according to a report on the letter.
The coalition says the 15% steering fee conflicts with Article 5(4) of the DMA, which the Commission read in April 2025 as requiring free steering. It describes the 5% Core Technology Commission as one disincentive replacing another. The group asks the Commission to consult affected developers before accepting the terms and to clarify which DMA proceedings against Apple remain open, with timelines for closing them.
The Commission has announced no consultation timeline and no formal reply to the letter. Apple has not answered the coalition publicly. That silence leaves developers guessing whether Apple DMA compliance is now settled or merely paused.
Apple is not the only gatekeeper under scrutiny. On 24 July 2026 the Commission fined Google €890 million, made up of €460 million and €430 million, for favouring its own shopping, hotel and transport services in search results and for stopping app developers from promoting alternative offers. Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said: “We will not hesitate to use our tools to safeguard business and innovation opportunities,” as reported by JURIST.
The Digital Markets Act took effect in November 2022 and obliges designated gatekeepers to open their platforms to rivals. The Commission designated Google as a gatekeeper in 2023 and opened its investigation in 2024. Apple has appealed the original fine and continues to challenge the DMA rules in court, which means the legal fight will outlast the October fee changes.
The real measure of Apple DMA compliance will be practical rather than legal. Regulators and developers will look at whether alternative stores and payment links attract real users at lower cost, and whether the Commission decides the 15% and 5% charges respect the Digital Markets Act or reopens the case.
