After being fined €500 million in April for not complying with the DMA, Apple has unveiled swathes of updates to the App Store on iOS, MacOS and iPadOS in the EU to avoid further penalties.

The key updates include the allowance of multiple external links in apps, which can point users to alternative payment sites, third-party app stores or promotional pages instead of only one, and a new tiered structure fee.

This new structure introduces a multi-layered commission model for in-app purchases initiated through non-App Store payment systems.

Tier One is a five per cent fee for basic services (app delivery, manual updates, moderation), while Tier Two stands at 13 per cent (10 per cent for small businesses) for full App Store functionality (marketing tools, insights, personalisation).

The App Store update also replaces the former €0.50 per-install charge outside of the App Store with a flat five per cent fee.

These changes allow developers greater flexibility in promoting deals and avoiding Apple’s traditional in-app purchase fees, while retaining a structured cost framework.

The DMA designates Apple as a “gatekeeper,” requiring a fairer app ecosystem and freedom from anti-steering restrictions.

Continued non-compliance could result in penalties of up to 10 per cent of Apple’s global turnover.

Apple has notified developers that these rules are in preview now and will formally take effect on January 1, 2026, with feedback from stakeholders to help refine the approach.

In its statement, Apple said it “disagrees with this outcome and plans to appeal” the DMA mandate.

The European Commission will now assess market feedback to determine whether further regulatory action or adjustments are needed.