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Apple Announces App Store Mini Apps Partner Program

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Apple today announced the App Store Mini Apps Partner Program, allowing apps that host mini apps and mini games to support In-App Purchases.

iOS-App-Store-General-Feature-JoeBlue.jpg

The program is designed for developers who host mini apps and games within a larger, native app.

Today, we're introducing the Mini Apps Partner Program, which expands on the App Store's ongoing support for apps that offer mini apps. Mini apps are self-contained experiences that are built using web technologies like HTML5 and JavaScript. This program is designed to help developers who host mini apps grow their business and further the availability of mini apps on the App Store — all while providing a great customer experience.

Participating developers may benefit from a reduced commission rate of 15% on the sales of qualifying In-App Purchases. To be eligible for this reduced commission rate, participating apps must support certain App Store technologies, including the Declared Age Range API and the Advanced Commerce API in order to help provide a safe and seamless experience for customers of all ages.
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The mini apps must be not be controlled by the developer of the host app. Participating apps are also required to support certain App Store technologies, such as the Declared Age Range API and the Advanced Commerce API. To join the Mini Apps Partner Program, developers must submit a request form.

The program seemingly relates to Apple's deal with Tencent, allowing it to obtain commission on mini games and mini apps in China's WeChat.

Apple also updated its App Review Guidelines today, adding and clarifying a range of requirements, including the provision that "creator apps must provide a way for users to identify content that exceeds the app's age rating, use an age restriction mechanism based on verified or declared age to limit access by underage users."

Article Link: Apple Announces App Store Mini Apps Partner Program
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/13/apple-announces-mini-apps-partner-program/
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EugW said:
Isn't that sort of like what Jobs originally envisioned for iOS apps, before the developers revolted?
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Was he envisioning taking a cut of purchases happening within them?

I'd mostly understood him wanting to just not be in the "third party Apps" game and thus he suggested those folks do progressive web apps.
 
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MacRumors said:


Apple today announced the App Store Mini Apps Partner Program.

iOS-App-Store-General-Feature-JoeBlue.jpg

The program is designed for developers who host mini apps and games within a larger, native app.



The mini apps must be not be controlled by the developer of the host app. Participating apps are also required to support certain App Store technologies, such as the Declared Age Range API and the Advanced Commerce API. To join the Mini Apps Partner Program, developers must submit a request form.

Apple also updated its App Review Guidelines today, adding and clarifying a range of requirements, including the provision that "creator apps must provide a way for users to identify content that exceeds the app's age rating, use an age restriction mechanism based on verified or declared age to limit access by underage users."


Article Link: Apple Announces App Store Mini Apps Partner Program
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Oh great - now on top of the already disgusting IAPs in the main apps, we will have even more disgusting Apple-pushed IAPs in mini apps INSIDE those main apps.
 
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We just want iOS like MacOS. Options to download DMGs from the dev website or from the Mac app store. That's it. Mac is very secure. Just like now, default, DMGs can't be installed unless the developer certificate is valid. Disgusting Apple is getting 15%-30% of every business. Apple's margins are 38-41%. Taking 30% from a business is killing it
 
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platinumaqua said:
I'm already annoyed when I download an app and it turns out to be a wrapper around a website
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I don't know about you, but I've stopped downloading apps unless its from one of my banks or a restaurant for ordering. This is 100% a learned behavior due to all the free apps with ad bloat and charging for IAP just to perform the basic purpose of the app. So sure, Apple can keep going this route... but they have trained me not to spend a dime with their store or even look for anything in it.
 
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dguisinger said:
I don't know about you, but I've stopped downloading apps unless its from one of my banks or a restaurant for ordering. This is 100% a learned behavior due to all the free apps with ad bloat and charging for IAP just to perform the basic purpose of the app. So sure, Apple can keep going this route... but they have trained me not to spend a dime with their store or even look for anything in it.
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I'm the same.

I go for Apps for core, key, functions (bank stuff, repeat usage things like Toast food ordering, obv passwords/emails,etc) ... but keep as much as possible beyond that to browser usage... especially anything "social" related.

It's amazing how much it reduces usage to just "not use the Apps" for those sorts of things.
 
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dguisinger said:
I don't know about you, but I've stopped downloading apps unless its from one of my banks or a restaurant for ordering. This is 100% a learned behavior due to all the free apps with ad bloat and charging for IAP just to perform the basic purpose of the app. So sure, Apple can keep going this route... but they have trained me not to spend a dime with their store or even look for anything in it.
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I agree, and I'm already there. Once or twice I'll encounter the app only notice and only then I choose to download the app.

Edit: and notice how Apple refuses to add filters for no ads, no IAP, or no tracking despite having all the information needed to make them work
 
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Ah.
Pretty sure this is also something that EU and the USA have gone at Apple about. Most of the issues countries have isn’t Apple’s fees, cause as far as I know, none of them have said no to Apple collecting a commission (though they use the terms of unfair pricing). It’s the limit of options to get Apps from anyone other then Apple that is the issue.

This should open up a lot of opportunities for WeChat and other Apps that host the mini-apps a chance to do great things while also hopefully keeping things more ‘secure’.

A 15% commission is cheap. Really wish people would stop quoting 30% as only like 10% of Apps even qualify for that larger rate.
 
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The_Gream said:
Ah.
Pretty sure this is also something that EU and the USA have gone at Apple about. Most of the issues countries have isn’t Apple’s fees, cause as far as I know, none of them have said no to Apple collecting a commission (though they use the terms of unfair pricing). It’s the limit of options to get Apps from anyone other then Apple that is the issue.

This should open up a lot of opportunities for WeChat and other Apps that host the mini-apps a chance to do great things while also hopefully keeping things more ‘secure’.

A 15% commission is cheap. Really wish people would stop quoting 30% as only like 10% of Apps even qualify for that larger rate.
Click to expand...

Maybe Apple should just get rid of the 30% if that's limited in who gets subjected to it?
Seems like an easy PR win.
 
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The_Gream said:
Ah.
Pretty sure this is also something that EU and the USA have gone at Apple about. Most of the issues countries have isn’t Apple’s fees, cause as far as I know, none of them have said no to Apple collecting a commission (though they use the terms of unfair pricing). It’s the limit of options to get Apps from anyone other then Apple that is the issue.

This should open up a lot of opportunities for WeChat and other Apps that host the mini-apps a chance to do great things while also hopefully keeping things more ‘secure’.

A 15% commission is cheap. Really wish people would stop quoting 30% as only like 10% of Apps even qualify for that larger rate.
Click to expand...

They should do it like Google:

  • First $1 million of sales is 15%. It doesn't matter who you are, or what your sales are. If you make 10 million in sales, the first million is still 15%.
  • It's automatic. You don't have to sign up and be approved, like you do with Apple.
 
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zahuh said:
We just want iOS like MacOS. Options to download DMGs from the dev website or from the Mac app store. That's it. Mac is very secure. Just like now, default, DMGs can't be installed unless the developer certificate is valid. Disgusting Apple is getting 15%-30% of every business. Apple's margins are 38-41%. Taking 30% from a business is killing it
Click to expand...
Taking 30% from a software sale is much different than a hardware sale (which Apple takes no portion of). What are Apple's software and service margins? Comparing to that would be a much better comparison.
 
zahuh said:
We just want iOS like MacOS. Options to download DMGs from the dev website or from the Mac app store. That's it. Mac is very secure. Just like now, default, DMGs can't be installed unless the developer certificate is valid. Disgusting Apple is getting 15%-30% of every business. Apple's margins are 38-41%. Taking 30% from a business is killing it
Click to expand...

Am I missing something? I am pretty sure you can install apps WiTHOUT developer certificate… making this argument that iOS, like Macs are “very secure” because of that moot.
 
SpaceJello said:
Am I missing something? I am pretty sure you can install apps WiTHOUT developer certificate… making this argument that iOS, like Macs are “very secure” because of that moot.
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Yes you're missing something. Yes you 'can' but not without with the user going to system settings privacy and allowing the app to open even though there is no valid certificate then verifying your decision multiple times by putting in your password and acknowledging the app was downloaded from the internet and to still open it.
 
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dguisinger said:
I don't know about you, but I've stopped downloading apps unless its from one of my banks or a restaurant for ordering. This is 100% a learned behavior due to all the free apps with ad bloat and charging for IAP just to perform the basic purpose of the app. So sure, Apple can keep going this route... but they have trained me not to spend a dime with their store or even look for anything in it.
Click to expand...
I've been doing it for years and lately started a new thing. I only buy/download apps that show the Data Not Collected badge except necessary apps like the bank app. For everything else I use Safari.

appstore.jpg
 
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