Apple Reduces Commission For Link Affiliates To Just 2.5%

Apple is reducing the commission its link affiliates get. Starting next month, the rate for developers of apps that primarily promote online services will be reduced from 7 percent to 2.5 percent.

Members of Apple’s link affiliate program received a notice Monday saying the commission rate from their apps and in-app purchases has been reduced to just 2.5 percent. The change will be implemented May 1, so from then on, link affiliates will claim a smaller percentage of earnings from their apps.

AppleInsider, who also has an iTunes app, said though Apple did not state why the commission rate is being changed, it’s obvious the company is looking to retain more profit from apps and in-app purchases. The site also predicted this sharp reduction will greatly impact the small- to mid-sized websites that offer news content and reviews.

On the other hand, Apple has decided to retain the 7 percent commission rate for affiliates managing media apps for music, movies, books and TV shows. The company has also indicated that affiliate commissions on Apple Music memberships will remain intact. This means there would still be a one-time 50 percent commission on subscriptions, MacRumors reported.

READ: Apple hires NASA engineers for Project Titan

App developer David Barnard posted the notice Apple sent him on his Twitter account. Based on the screenshot he shared, Apple has also informed affiliates about changes to the Affiliate Resources site. The tech giant has introduced a new Getting Started Guide, so partners can follow the step-by-step instructions on how to set up their accounts and make money. The Program Overview page has also been updated with more details.

The news comes less than a year after Apple announced a new revenue model for Apple Store subscriptions. The model implemented a year ago reduced Apple's take to 15 percent from 30 percent. AppleInsider said the company likely now is trying to make up for the lost revenue.