Apple announced that it has introduced a new interface called Advanced Commerce API so that developers can further diversify their in-app purchasing experiences. This innovation aims to support different purchasing formats such as subscriptions and content add-ons. The company stated that the introduction of this new API will not result in any changes to the existing commission structure.
Apple’s announcement included the following statements: “The App Store processes billions of transactions each year, helping developers grow their businesses and deliver a superior experience to customers around the world. “We are introducing the Enhanced Commerce API to better support developers’ evolving business models, such as large content catalogs, experiences offered by creators, and subscriptions with optional add-ons.”
Apple explained which applications and developers can use the new API under three main categories:
- Large and Frequently Updated Content Libraries: Apps that are constantly updated and offer one-time purchase options, such as audiobooks or online courses.
- Experiences Offered by Creators: Applications where users can access content created by content creators through one-time or renewable subscriptions.
- Add-ons to Subscription Services: Apps that offer renewable purchasing options such as sports, additional channel packs or regional content.
This step is considered an important development, especially for platforms aimed at content producers. Last year, Apple asked Patreon, a platform for content creators, to switch to Apple’s payment system for their content to be sold through the App Store. To meet this demand, Patreon announced that it had initiated a gradual transition process in the iOS application and that this process would be completed in November 2025. It is thought that the new API was developed to support such scenarios more effectively.
After the European Union forced Apple to allow alternative payment systems and third-party app stores, the company continues to introduce various innovations to keep developers in its ecosystem. For example, it started allowing retro game emulators worldwide and offered special discounts to customers who did not renew their subscriptions.
This new API stands out as one of Apple’s latest innovations that encourages staying in the ecosystem. This expanded flexibility offered to developers aims to both improve the user experience and increase the competitiveness of Apple platforms.