by PENG Peng

A group of 48 Chinese app developers has asked China's antitrust regulator to investigate Apple, arguing that the company should extend to China the lower App Store fees and broader payment options it has already granted in markets such as the European Union, Japan and Brazil.

According to Chinese media outlet National Business Daily, the developers submitted a joint complaint to China's State Administration for Market Regulation on June 22, accusing Apple of abusing its dominant position in the country's iOS ecosystem. They called on the company to allow third-party app distribution, alternative in-app payment systems and external payment links.

The complaint follows Apple's recent concessions in Brazil, where the company agreed to lower commissions and allow alternative payment and distribution channels after years of antitrust scrutiny. Similar reforms have already been implemented in the European Union and Japan, giving developers and consumers greater flexibility in how apps are distributed and paid for.

China has seen only partial changes so far.

In March, Apple announced that, following discussions with Chinese regulators, it would reduce App Store commission rates in mainland China. Standard commissions were cut to 25% from 30%, while qualifying small developers and participants in Apple's mini-program partnership program saw rates reduced to 12% from 15%.

However, Apple has not allowed third-party app stores, alternative payment systems or external payment links in China.

Apple's commission model, often referred to as the "Apple tax," has faced regulatory and legal challenges worldwide, including disputes involving Epic Games and Spotify. Governments and regulators in multiple jurisdictions have pushed the company to loosen its control over app distribution and payments.

Apple has argued that the App Store generates substantial economic value for developers. Company-backed research released in 2025 estimated that China accounted for US$539 billion in App Store-related billings and sales in 2024, making it the platform's largest market globally.

The developers behind the latest complaint argue that Chinese developers should receive the same treatment Apple now provides in other major jurisdictions. Whether Chinese regulators choose to intervene more aggressively could shape the future of Apple's App Store business model in one of the company's most important markets.