Islamabad:( The COW News Digital )-In a last-minute move to avoid potentially billions in penalties from EU regulators, Apple has agreed to allow iPhone and iPad users in Europe to download apps from outside its official App Store.
Facing a fast-approaching compliance deadline under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple announced that residents of the 27-nation bloc will soon be able to install apps directly from third-party marketplaces or even straight from developers’ websites. The update is expected to roll out later this year with iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6.
The changes also include expanded user control: EU users will be able to choose a different browser engine and select a third-party wallet for payments at checkout—options previously restricted by Apple’s ecosystem.
For consumers, this means the familiar download button could soon appear in more places beyond the App Store. Once a user opts into the new feature, Apple will display a one-time confirmation prompt before allowing off-store installations. Each app must still pass a lightweight notarization check designed to screen for malware. Notably, these features are geo-restricted—off-store downloads will stop working if a device remains outside the EU for more than 30 days.
A New Cost Structure for Developers
While developers gain more flexibility in how they distribute their apps, it comes with a new pricing model. Apple is introducing a two-tier “Store Services” fee:
Tier 1: 5% of off-store sales for basic support, including app notarization and customer service.
Tier 2: 13% for a full range of services, including automatic updates and App Store promotions.
Additionally, Apple will impose a new 5% “Core Technology Commission” on all purchases processed outside its payment system. This fee will replace the current €0.50-per-download charge and become the standard across the EU under a unified pricing model starting January 1, 2026.
Apple claims that under this new structure, “more than 99%” of developers will pay the same or less compared to previous terms.
Regulatory Pressure Mounts
This shift comes after the European Commission fined Apple €500 million (approximately $585 million) in April for restricting developers from directing users to cheaper payment alternatives. The Commission also warned that Apple could face daily fines of up to 5% of its global revenue if it failed to comply with the new rules.
Apple has pushed back, accusing EU regulators of constantly changing expectations. A company spokesperson said Apple has invested “hundreds of thousands of hours” to meet evolving compliance requirements.
Still, critics remain unconvinced. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney condemned the new 5% fee tier as a “malicious compliance scheme,” arguing that it undermines fair competition.
If regulators determine Apple hasn’t gone far enough, the company could face even harsher penalties or be forced to separate its App Store operations entirely.
