A coalition of 48 China-based iOS developers has filed an antitrust complaint against Apple with China’s top market regulator, alleging that the company’s App Store commission structure and platform rules impose unfair costs on local software creators and limit competition in the country’s mobile app economy.
According to the South China Morning Post, the developers submitted an open letter to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), requesting an investigation into Apple’s App Store practices and urging authorities to determine whether the company has abused a dominant position in the market. Multiple outlets, including 9to5Mac and MacRumors, reported on the filing on June 23.
The developers argue that Apple has not fulfilled earlier commitments to offer Chinese developers commission rates comparable to its most favorable terms globally. They contend that the company’s fees remain excessively high and place domestic app creators at a competitive disadvantage.
The complaint comes several months after Apple reduced App Store commission rates in mainland China following discussions with regulators. In March, Apple announced that its standard commission on digital purchases in China would fall from 30% to 25%, while rates for smaller developers and certain mini-app programs would decline from 15% to 12%, according to company statements reported by multiple news organizations.
Despite those reductions, the developers behind the latest filing say the changes did not go far enough. Reports indicate the group is seeking further regulatory intervention to address what it describes as persistent barriers to competition within Apple’s ecosystem.
Long-running dispute over App Store policies
The latest complaint is the newest chapter in a years-long series of legal and regulatory challenges involving Apple’s App Store business model in China.
According to reports, Chinese legal challenges targeting Apple’s app marketplace date back to at least 2017, when a Beijing law firm accused the company of charging excessive commissions and removing applications without adequate explanation. Additional cases followed in subsequent years, including lawsuits and administrative complaints related to Apple’s payment requirements and control over app distribution.
In 2025, a separate group of Chinese consumers filed an antitrust complaint with SAMR alleging that Apple restricted app distribution to its own App Store and required developers to use Apple’s in-app payment system for digital purchases. That complaint argued that Apple maintained tighter restrictions in China than in some other markets where regulators have compelled changes to the company’s policies.
Broader antitrust concerns
The dispute reflects a wider global debate over the market power of major mobile platform operators.
Apple has faced antitrust investigations, lawsuits and regulatory actions in several jurisdictions over App Store commissions, payment rules and restrictions on alternative app distribution channels. Regulators and private litigants have argued that Apple’s control over iOS software distribution gives the company significant influence over pricing and access to customers.
In the European Union, new digital competition rules have required Apple to make changes to aspects of its app marketplace operations. In the United States, ongoing litigation involving Epic Games has also focused on Apple’s App Store policies and restrictions on alternative payment options.
Competition authorities and courts in several countries have examined whether commission rates—historically as high as 30% for many transactions—constitute excessive pricing or whether Apple’s ecosystem restrictions limit consumer choice and developer competition.
Related: Developers Urge Antitrust Review of Apple’s App Store Practices
Apple has consistently defended its App Store model, arguing that its commissions support platform security, developer tools, payment processing and marketplace operations. The company has also maintained that its policies help protect users from fraud and privacy risks.
China remains a key market
The latest complaint arrives at a sensitive time for Apple in China, one of the company’s most important markets and a critical hub for both manufacturing and software distribution.
Chinese regulators have increased scrutiny of large technology platforms in recent years, while competition enforcement under the country’s Anti-Monopoly Law has become more active across several sectors of the digital economy.
The filing could place renewed attention on whether Apple’s App Store practices comply with China’s competition rules, particularly as regulators continue examining the conduct of major digital platforms and their relationships with developers and consumers.
As of June 23, Chinese authorities had not announced a formal investigation stemming from the developers’ complaint. Apple had not publicly responded to the allegations reported by the developers. The matter now rests with SAMR, which will determine whether the filing warrants further regulatory review or enforcement action.
Source: 9to5mac
