Apple App Store Review Guidelines

Apple's App Review Guidelines are the rulebook developers must follow to get apps approved and distributed on the App Store — covering everything from what content is allowed to how payments must be processed. The most important thing for consumers is that Apple requires developers of digital goods and services to use Apple's payment system, which typically adds up to a 30% fee that developers often pass on to users as higher prices or subscription costs. If you use apps on an iPhone or iPad, these rules directly shape which apps are available to you and what they cost.

Apple's App Review Guidelines govern the submission and distribution of applications on the App Store across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS platforms, deriving legal authority from the Apple Developer Program License Agreement and App Store Connect terms. The guidelines impose detailed obligations on developers covering safety (including content restrictions for minors, age ratings, and anti-harassment standards), performance (functionality, accuracy, and hardware compatibility), business (in-app purchase requirements mandating Apple's payment system for digital goods, with Apple retaining up to 30% commission), design (adherence to Human Interface Guidelines), and legal compliance (IP rights, privacy, data handling). Notably, Apple reserves absolute and unilateral discretion to reject or remove apps at any time without appeal guarantee, and mandates exclusive use of Apple's in-app purchase mechanism for digital content — a provision under active antitrust scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions. The guidelines engage the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), GDPR, CCPA, COPPA, FTC Act Section 5, and App Store-specific regulations in Japan and South Korea; material compliance considerations include the DMA's mandatory third-party app distribution requirements in the EU and ongoing DOJ/EC antitrust proceedings regarding Apple's in-app purchase monopoly.