Apple App Store vs Steam — which takes less?
| Apple App Store | Steam | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 30% standard / 15% Small Business Program | 30% up to $10M, 25% to $50M, 20% above |
| $100 → fees | $30.00 | $30.00 |
| $100 → net | $70.00 | $70.00 |
Side-by-side quick reference
| Amount | Apple App Store fees | Apple App Store net | Steam fees | Steam net | Difference | Apple App Store charge→net | Steam charge→net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $3.00 | $7.00 | $3.00 | $7.00 | tie | $14.29 | $14.29 |
| $25.00 | $7.50 | $17.50 | $7.50 | $17.50 | tie | $35.72 | $35.72 |
| $50.00 | $15.00 | $35.00 | $15.00 | $35.00 | tie | $71.43 | $71.43 |
| $100.00 | $30.00 | $70.00 | $30.00 | $70.00 | tie | $142.86 | $142.86 |
| $250.00 | $75.00 | $175.00 | $75.00 | $175.00 | tie | $357.15 | $357.15 |
| $500.00 | $150.00 | $350.00 | $150.00 | $350.00 | tie | $714.29 | $714.29 |
| $1,000.00 | $300.00 | $700.00 | $300.00 | $700.00 | tie | $1,428.58 | $1,428.58 |
Apple App Store formula
30% standard / 15% Small Business Program
30% standard / 15% Small Business Program — verified 2026-11-10
Steam formula
30% up to $10M, 25% to $50M, 20% above
30% up to $10M, 25% to $50M, 20% above — verified 2026-11-10
Apple App Store fee formula & hidden costs
30% standard / 15% Small Business Program
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $30.00 fees → $70.00 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $142.86.
Hidden fees to watch
- App prices are VAT-inclusive — a 20% VAT region shrinks your real revenue before the 30% cut even applies.
- EU DMA terms trade a lower commission for a 3% processing fee plus €0.50 per first annual install over 1M — brutal for viral free apps.
- Refund clawbacks reverse the commission but the support and churn cost stays.
- The $99/year developer program fee is a real per-download cost at low volume.
Steam fee formula & hidden costs
30% up to $10M, 25% to $50M, 20% above
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $30.00 fees → $70.00 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $142.86.
Hidden fees to watch
- Prices are VAT-inclusive — a 20% VAT region removes ~17% of gross before the 30% share.
- Refunds within 14 days / 2 hours claw back the full sale.
- Steam keys sold off-platform cost 0% but generate no Steam visibility.
- The $100 recoupable Steam Direct fee per game only pays back after ~$1,000 adjusted gross.
Frequently asked questions
Which takes less on a $100 sale: Apple App Store or Steam?
Apple App Store takes $30.00 (net $70.00); Steam takes $30.00 (net $70.00). Apple App Store wins by $0.00 at $100.
Which is better for international sellers, Apple App Store or Steam?
Apple App Store: 30% standard / 15% Small Business Program. Steam: 30% up to $10M, 25% to $50M, 20% above. Check the regional variants above — rates change materially by country.
What is the effective take rate difference between Apple App Store and Steam?
At $100, Apple App Store takes 30.0% vs Steam at 30.0% — a 0.0 point gap before modifiers.