RevenueCat: the 15% App Store fee is the default for most devs (if you actually enroll)

Original article (source): RevenueCat - “The 15% App Store fee you’re probably not paying (but should be)” (Sep 11, 2026)

• https://www.revenuecat.com/blog/engineering/small-business-program

The headline

For most developers, “the 30% fee” is optional. The real risk is forgetting to enroll in the 15% programs.

RevenueCat’s point is practical, not political: if you qualify, this is one of the highest-ROI admin tasks you can do this year.

What they cover (useful checklist)

• Apple: App Store Small Business Program (15%). Eligibility is based on being under $1M (and includes associated accounts), and you need to enroll (it is not automatic for existing accounts).
• Google Play: 15% service fee tier. 15% on the first $1M each year, and you enroll via associated developer accounts / account grouping.
• Subscriptions nuance:
  • Apple standard subscriptions drop to 15% after year one per subscriber.
  • Google Play subscription service fee is 15% from day one.
• If you use RevenueCat: they call out updating your settings so proceeds and downstream integrations reflect the correct fee tier.

Why this matters

This is one of those “growth” levers that sits outside the growth team:

• it changes your gross margin, which changes your allowable CPA
• it changes your LTV model assumptions
• it changes how you think about promos and payback windows

Tiny win

Today: open a doc and write three numbers (even if they are rough):

1. your current annual store proceeds (rolling 12 months)
2. what 15% vs 30% fee implies for your gross margin
3. one thing you would do with that margin (more bids, more creative, more retention)

Then go actually check you are enrolled.

Read the original: https://www.revenuecat.com/blog/engineering/small-business-program