Apple is launching a new program for mini app developers that reduces their fees for in-app purchases. On Thursday, the company announced that mini-app creators who join the program enjoy a lower 15 percent commission rate — half the rate Apple charges other developers, up to 30 percent.
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 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.
News of the program comes just hours after Apple reached a deal with Tencent, allowing it to take a 15 percent commission on purchases from WeChat’s mini apps. Part of the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against Apple accuses the company of suppressing super apps, or apps that offer multiple types of services (or mini apps) on a single platform. This step can help reduce the pressure of antitrust.
Apple says its new program will “help developers hosting Mini Apps grow their business and further expand the availability of Mini Apps on the App Store.”