Tattoo Artist BooksApp Store fees for developers come in two parts: a yearly membership for the Apple Developer Program and a commission on digital sales. There is no per-app upload fee. At the time of writing (November 2026) the standard Apple Developer Program cost is 99 US dollars per year, shown in local currency in some regions. Always check Apple's official developer site for the current amount before you pay.
Apple Developer Program cost and account types
You choose between two account types, and the choice decides the seller name shown on the store:
| Individual | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| Name shown on the store | Your personal name | The legal company name |
| Requirements | Apple ID, identity verification | Legal entity, D-U-N-S number, authorized representative |
| Team members | Limited | Role-based team management |
| Good for | Solo founders, first experiments | Commercial products, incorporated teams |
Organization verification, especially the D-U-N-S step, can take a while, so start it before the app is finished.
App Store commission
If you sell paid downloads, in-app purchases or subscriptions, Apple keeps a share. As of November 2026 the general picture is below (rules differ by region and change over time, so verify on Apple's site):
- Standard rate: 30 percent.
- App Store Small Business Program: 15 percent if your proceeds were under 1 million US dollars in the previous year and you enrol.
- Subscriptions: the rate drops to 15 percent for subscribers after their first year.
- Free apps without digital sales: no commission, but the yearly membership still applies.
- Physical goods and real-world services sold in the app are generally outside this commission.
So "the cost to publish an app on the App Store" and "the App Store commission" are separate things: one is a yearly membership, the other is a cut of sales.
Requirements to publish an app on the App Store
An account is not enough, the app goes through review. Have these ready:
- A finished, working build. Crashes, empty screens and "coming soon" sections get rejected.
- A privacy policy link and the privacy labels filled in App Store Connect, describing what data you collect.
- In-app account deletion if users can create an account.
- A demo account if login is required, so reviewers can get in.
- Screenshots, description, icon and age rating.
- Apple's in-app purchase system if you sell digital content or features.
We list the most common failures in app store rejection reasons. For the exact current rules, the App Review Guidelines are the only reliable source.
From code to store: the release flow
You need a Mac and Xcode to produce the iOS build, even if much of the code is written elsewhere. The build is uploaded to App Store Connect, tried on real devices through TestFlight, then submitted for review. Review often takes a day or two, but there is no guarantee, and a first submission with follow-up questions can take longer. Plan your launch date with a buffer of at least a week.
Common account mistakes
- Opening the account in an agency's or freelancer's name. Transferring an app later is possible but tedious.
- Leaving organization paperwork to the last day. Entity and D-U-N-S checks can take longer than expected.
- Skipping payment and tax details. For paid apps or in-app purchases, agreements and bank and tax information must be completed in App Store Connect.
- Guessing the privacy labels. Every third-party library you use (analytics, crash reporting, ads) may collect data, and the labels must reflect that.
- Forgetting the renewal date. If the membership lapses, your apps can be removed from the store.
What costs money after launch
The membership fee is the visible line. The real budget sits elsewhere: design and development work, servers and databases, notifications and payment infrastructure, plus updates and support. Apple ships a new iOS version every year, and your app has to keep up. Launch is not an end point, maintenance is an ongoing item. More in app maintenance and updates and, for the full budget picture, app development cost. For tax treatment of Apple payouts, talk to an accountant in your country.
Whose name should the account be under?
This matters more than the fee. If someone builds your app, open the account in your own name. At OdenaVerse, publishing happens under the client's own Apple and Google accounts, so the app, the revenue and the reviews stay yours. We followed the same order when we released our own app, Tattoo Artist Books: account first, then privacy labels, then review.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to publish an app on the App Store?
No. You need a paid Apple Developer Program membership (99 US dollars per year as of November 2026, verify on Apple's site). There is no extra fee per app.
Does Apple take a commission on free apps?
Not on free apps without digital sales, but the yearly membership is still required.
What happens if I do not renew?
Your apps can be removed from the store. Put the renewal date in your calendar.
Do I need a company to publish?
No, an individual account works. For commercial products a company name shown as the seller builds trust. It depends on your business model.
In short: the membership is fixed, the real work is shipping an app that passes review with accurate privacy information. We write the app and take it all the way to release. See publish an app on Google Play for the Android side, or look at Tattoo Artist Books to see the kind of app we ship ourselves.