Apple is launching a new program for mini app developers that slashes its fees for in-app purchases. On Thursday, the company announced that mini app creators who join the program take advantage of a lower 15 percent commission rate — half of the up to 30 percent rate Apple charges other developers.
Apple describes mini apps as “self-contained experiences” built using HTML5 and JavaScript that exist within another app. The format has become popular in China, where apps like the Tencent-owned WeChat have built-in services for ride-hailing, food delivery, payments, and more. Telegram and Discord similarly offer mini apps, while Snapchat and TikTok have also experimented with them.
The news of the program comes just hours after Apple reached an agreement with Tencent, allowing it to take a 15 percent commission on purchases from WeChat’s mini apps. Part of the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Apple accuses the company of stifling super apps, or apps that offer a range of services (or mini apps) on a single platform. This move may help lessen that antitrust pressure.
Apple says its new program will help “developers who host mini apps grow their business and further the availability of mini apps on the App Store.”