Short answer: the cost to publish an app on the App Store is 99 USD a year, the Apple Developer Program membership. Apple says prices may vary by region and shows the local price when you enroll. There is no extra fee per app, per update or per submission. If you sell something, Apple keeps a commission on those sales: 15% for small developers in Apple’s Small Business Program, 30% otherwise.
What you pay Apple to publish an app
| Item | Cost | Who pays it |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Developer Program membership | 99 USD per membership year (local price at enrollment) | Everyone who publishes an app on the App Store |
| Fee waiver | 0 USD | Eligible nonprofits, accredited educational institutions and government entities |
| D-U-N-S Number | Free | Organizations enrolling as a company (not individuals, not government entities) |
| Commission on sales | 15% or 30% of what you sell | Only apps that sell digital goods or services |
The membership is the only fixed cost to publish an app. One membership covers all your apps, and you can submit as many updates as you need.
The 99 USD Apple Developer Program fee
To publish an app on the App Store you need a paid membership in the Apple Developer Program. Apple lists it as 99 USD per membership year. It renews every year. If it expires, Apple says your apps are no longer available for download and you cannot submit new apps or updates.
You can enroll as an individual or as an organization. As an individual, your own name appears as the seller. As an organization, the company name appears, and Apple asks for a D-U-N-S Number to verify the company. The D-U-N-S Number itself is free from Dun & Bradstreet, but Apple says to allow up to 5 business days to receive it. Step-by-step: How to enroll in the Apple Developer Program.
Can you publish an app for free?
Only with a fee waiver. Apple waives the membership fee for nonprofit organizations, accredited educational institutions and government entities that meet its requirements. Everyone else pays the 99 USD fee to publish an app.
What is free: registering as an Apple developer with your Apple Account, which gives you access to tools and documentation. Publishing on the App Store is the step that needs the paid membership.
Apple’s commission: 15% or 30%
The cost to publish an app does not end with the fee if your app sells digital goods or services, such as a paid download, a subscription or in-app purchases.
- Standard rate: 30%. Apple calls this the App Store’s standard commission rate.
- Small Business Program: 15%. Developers who made up to 1 million USD in proceeds in the prior calendar year, and developers new to the App Store, can enroll and pay 15% on paid apps and in-app purchases. If you pass 1 million USD in the current year, the standard rate applies to later sales.
- Subscriptions after one year: 15%. For auto-renewable subscriptions you receive 70% in a subscriber’s first year and 85% after that subscriber has a year of paid service.
The Small Business Program is not automatic: the Account Holder has to enroll in it.
What is not a cost to publish an app
- The Enterprise Program (299 USD a year). This is a different program for apps used only inside a company. You do not need it to publish an app on the App Store.
- Per-app or per-review fees. There are none. Rejections and resubmissions cost nothing; they only cost time. How long that takes: How long does App Store review take?
Other costs you may have
These are not Apple fees, but they are part of what it costs to publish an app:
- A Mac and Xcode, if you build the app yourself. Xcode is free on the Mac App Store; it runs only on a Mac.
- A privacy policy page. App Store Connect requires a privacy policy URL for every app.
- A developer or an app builder. This is usually the largest cost. That is your iOS app development cost, and it depends on who builds the app: an AI app builder charges a subscription, while a developer or an agency quotes per project. AirBuild has a free plan and monthly paid plans that include the full AI team, TestFlight and App Store submission. It builds and submits from a Mac or in the cloud, so you do not need your own Mac. See Pricing and AI app builder pricing compared.
The cost to publish an app, in one line
99 USD a year to Apple, 0 USD per app or update, and 15% (or 30%) of what you sell, plus whatever it costs to build the app.
FAQ
How much does it cost to publish an app on the App Store?
99 USD per membership year for the Apple Developer Program. Prices may vary by region. There is no extra fee per app or per submission.
Is the Apple Developer fee a one-time payment?
No. It is a yearly membership. If it expires, your apps are no longer available for download until you renew.
Can I publish an app on the App Store for free?
Only if you qualify for a fee waiver as a nonprofit, accredited educational institution or government entity.
Do I pay again for each app or each update?
No. One membership covers all your apps and updates.
How much does Apple take from app sales?
30% is the standard rate. Small developers in the App Store Small Business Program pay 15%, and auto-renewable subscriptions drop to 15% after a subscriber’s first year.
Do I need the 299 USD Enterprise Program to publish an app?
No. The Enterprise Program is for apps used only inside a company. The App Store needs the 99 USD Apple Developer Program.