What is an app store fee calculator and how it works
An app store fee calculator estimates how much Apple and Google keep from your revenue after you sell subscriptions, in-app purchases or one-time purchases. Both stores take a percentage commission of 15% or 30% depending on revenue type, programme eligibility and revenue threshold, on top of the annual developer account fee. Since understanding app store revenue calculator results is critical to your business model, this tool breaks down the commission and fees for both stores, then shows your net take-home.
App founders and subscription businesses use an app store fee calculator to understand profitability before launch. The effect is larger than most founders expect: at the 30% rate a $10 subscription nets $7 before tax, at 15% it nets $8.50. Enter the net figure you want and work backwards with the calculator to see the gross revenue it requires at your rate. The Apple app store commission and Google play store fees are your largest per-user costs after development.
How app store commissions work
Apple and Google take a percentage of every in-app purchase and subscription. The commission rate depends on the revenue type and which store, and both have recently added reduced-rate programmes for small businesses.
store commission = gross revenue x commission rate
commission rate (Apple):
one-time purchase: 30%
subscriptions year 1: 30%
subscriptions year 2+: 15% (all regions)
Small Business Programme (under $1M/year): 15% all types
commission rate (Google Play):
one-time purchase: 15% on the first $1M of revenue each year, 30% above that
subscriptions: 15% regardless of revenue
These are the standard rates that apply globally. Apple has different terminology for different regions (EU has alternative terms without the 30% year 1 rate for subscriptions; we do not detail them here but they exist). Google's rates are consistent worldwide.
A worked example
A meditation app earning $5,000 a month in subscriptions using both stores and the Apple Small Business Programme:
- 50% on Apple (Small Business, 15% commission) = $2,500 x 0.15 = $375 to Apple
- 50% on Google (15% commission) = $2,500 x 0.15 = $375 to Google
- Total commission = $750, you keep $4,250
- Annualized: $60,000 revenue, $9,000 commission, $51,000 to you
Without Small Business Programme qualification, that $375 Apple commission would be $750, cutting your annual revenue by $4,500. This is why eligibility matters at scale.
Apple Small Business Programme: when to apply
Apple offers a reduced 15% commission (down from 30%) for app businesses earning under $1M annually. You must enroll explicitly and have a good history on the App Store. Key points:
- Applies to all revenue types once enrolled (one-time purchases, subscriptions all years).
- The $1M threshold is per calendar year. Cross $1M in January and you lose the programme for the full year.
- One-time purchase revenue and subscription revenue both count toward the $1M limit.
- You can re-enroll the following year if you fall back below $1M.
Enroll in Apple Small Business Programme
Google Play: 15% up to $1M, then 30% on one-time purchases
Google Play charges 15% on the first $1M of revenue a developer earns each year and 30% on earnings above that, for one-time purchases. Automatically renewing subscriptions are 15% regardless of revenue. There is no enrolment step for the 15% tier; it applies by default. The EEA, UK and US have their own terms, which the source page covers. The calculator applies the 30% tier when your monthly revenue times twelve is above $1M.
Google Play service fees
Subscription year 1 vs year 2: why the jump on Apple
Apple charges 30% in year one (then 15% year two and beyond) to incentivise long-term retention over new user acquisition. The logic: in year one, the store invests in discovery and ranking; in year two, the customer is a repeat buyer and the marginal cost to Apple is lower.
This creates a planning challenge: a subscription app with 50% annual churn has half its cohort at 30% commission and half at 15%, averaging 22.5%. A subscription app with 20% annual churn (much longer lifetime) has better blended commission: year 1 is 30%, year 2-3 is 15%, so the lifetime average is closer to 18% to 20%.
This is one reason why retention directly impacts your profitability. Every 1% improvement in year-two retention improves your blended commission by roughly 0.5 percentage points, which is not trivial at scale.
How to use this app store fee calculator
- Enter Gross monthly revenue: Total revenue before fees and commissions.
- Choose Revenue type: Apple and Google charge different rates for one-time purchases vs subscriptions, and subscriptions after year one get a lower rate.
- Choose Which stores.
- Choose Small Business Programme eligible: Apple offers 15% commission for small businesses earning under $1M a year.
- Enter VAT or GST (optional): Leave at 0 if you do not charge tax.
- Read Commission rate, which updates as you type: What the store takes as a percentage.
- Check the supporting figures: Store commission, Annual gross (at this rate), Annual commission, Annual revenue (you).
- Read the verdict under the result. It says what the number means for you and what to change first.
- Use Copy results to paste the figures anywhere, Copy link to this result to share the exact scenario, or Embed on your site to put the calculator on your own page.
Questions people ask
Do I pay VAT or GST to Apple and Google on top of their commission?
No. The commission percentage is applied to your revenue after applicable taxes. If you charge your customers VAT or GST, that amount is not subject to the app store commission. The calculator accounts for this if you enter a VAT rate.
Can I avoid app store commissions by processing payments outside the app?
On iOS, no. Apple requires in-app purchases for digital goods and subscriptions. You can offer discounts for payment outside the app, but you cannot bypass the commission entirely. On Android, Google Play is required for apps distributed through Google Play, but alternative stores (Samsung Galaxy Store, etc.) have different rates.
What if my app is free with ads or freemium?
Ad revenue is not subject to app store commissions. Only in-app purchases and subscriptions incur fees. A free app with a $2.99 IAP to remove ads pays 30% (or 15% on Google) only on the $2.99 transactions, not on ad impressions or other in-app events.
Does the Small Business Programme apply to in-app ads?
No. Ad networks handle their own commission structures independent of the app store. The 15% Small Business rate applies only to purchases and subscriptions processed through the app store.
What is the difference between Apple's one-time purchase and subscription rates?
Apple charges 30% on one-time purchases and on the first year of a subscription, then 15% from the second year of that subscription onward; developers in the Small Business Program (under $1 million a year) pay 15% throughout. Google Play charges 15% on subscriptions from day one and 15% on the first $1 million of one-time revenue each year, then 30% above that. The calculator applies these rules to your mix.
If I use Stripe or PayPal instead of in-app purchases, do I save the commission?
For iOS, no. Apple requires in-app purchase for digital goods and subscriptions within the app. You can offer Stripe payment for physical goods or services delivered outside the app. For Android, you can use alternative payment processors, but Google Play charging is required for apps on the Google Play store.
What is the difference between Apple app store commission and Google play store fees?
Apple's standard rate is 30% (15% for subscriptions after the first year, and 15% on everything in the Small Business Program under $1 million a year). Google Play is 15% on subscriptions and on the first $1 million of one-time purchase revenue each year, then 30% above that. The calculator shows the difference for your revenue type and store mix.
Is the Apple app store commission the same for one-time purchases and subscriptions?
No. Apple takes 30% on one-time purchases and first-year subscriptions, and 15% on subscriptions after year one or on everything under the Small Business Program. Google takes 15% on subscriptions and on the first $1 million of one-time revenue a year, 30% above that. Both publish exceptions, so check the current schedule before launch.
Sources
Last reviewed 23 September 2026. Formulas and benchmarks are published on the page so you can check them. This tool gives estimates, not quotes.
