By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept

GadgetBond

  • Latest
  • How-to
  • Tech
    • AI
    • Amazon
    • Apple
    • CES
    • Computing
    • Creators
    • Google
    • Meta
    • Microsoft
    • Mobile
    • Samsung
    • Security
    • Xbox
  • Transportation
    • Audi
    • BMW
    • Cadillac
    • E-Bike
    • Ferrari
    • Ford
    • Honda Prelude
    • Lamborghini
    • McLaren W1
    • Mercedes
    • Porsche
    • Rivian
    • Tesla
  • Culture
    • Apple TV
    • Disney
    • Gaming
    • Hulu
    • Marvel
    • HBO Max
    • Netflix
    • Paramount
    • SHOWTIME
    • Star Wars
    • Streaming
Add GadgetBond as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Font ResizerAa
GadgetBondGadgetBond
  • Latest
  • Tech
  • AI
  • Deals
  • How-to
  • Apps
  • Mobile
  • Gaming
  • Streaming
  • Transportation
Search
  • Latest
  • Deals
  • How-to
  • Tech
    • Amazon
    • Apple
    • CES
    • Computing
    • Creators
    • Google
    • Meta
    • Microsoft
    • Mobile
    • Samsung
    • Security
    • Xbox
  • AI
    • Anthropic
    • ChatGPT
    • ChatGPT Atlas
    • Gemini AI (formerly Bard)
    • Google DeepMind
    • Grok AI
    • Meta AI
    • Microsoft Copilot
    • OpenAI
    • Perplexity
    • xAI
  • Transportation
    • Audi
    • BMW
    • Cadillac
    • E-Bike
    • Ferrari
    • Ford
    • Honda Prelude
    • Lamborghini
    • McLaren W1
    • Mercedes
    • Porsche
    • Rivian
    • Tesla
  • Culture
    • Apple TV
    • Disney
    • Gaming
    • Hulu
    • Marvel
    • HBO Max
    • Netflix
    • Paramount
    • SHOWTIME
    • Star Wars
    • Streaming
Follow US
App StoreAppleSpotifyStreamingTech

Spotify: we can’t survive Apple’s outrageous new App Store tax

Apple accused of trying to make costs "impossibly difficult" for devs who want payment choices, with Spotify saying new fees could crush its business.

By
Shubham Sawarkar
Shubham Sawarkar's avatar
ByShubham Sawarkar
Editor-in-Chief
I’m a tech enthusiast who loves exploring gadgets, trends, and innovations. With certifications in CISCO Routing & Switching and Windows Server Administration, I bring a sharp...
Follow:
- Editor-in-Chief
Jan 26, 2024, 5:35 PM EST
Share
We may get a commission from retail offers. Learn more
Spotify CEO says company can't survive "extortion" from Apple's fees
Spotify founder Daniel Ek speaks at the 19th International Conference on Competition at Steigenberger Hotel am Kanzleramt on March 14, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Ek discussed how fair competition enables consumers and innovators to win. (Photo by Sebastian Reuter / Getty Images for Spotify)
SHARE

Music streaming service Spotify, one of the App Store‘s most vocal critics, is once again going after Apple for unfair practices that it says will hurt small developers. This time, the company says Apple’s newly proposed method of complying with looming EU regulations is a “complete and total farce” designed to squeeze more money out of developers.

Specifically, Spotify takes issue with Apple’s plan to charge a “Core Technology Fee” of €0.50 for every app installed through a third-party app store after the first million. Calling this new tax “extortion, plain and simple,” Spotify argues Apple is trying to make it impossibly difficult for developers to avoid the 30% commission Apple takes on App Store purchases.

“From our read of Apple’s proposal, a developer would have to pay this fee even if a user downloaded the app, never used it and forgot to delete it,” Spotify said. On top of this, Apple will still take a 17% cut when developers use alternative payment systems, per new EU rules going into effect in March.

For Spotify itself, which has over 100 million European iOS users, this new tax “could skyrocket our customer acquisition costs, potentially increasing them tenfold,” wrote CEO Daniel Ek in a blog post. “Under the new terms, we cannot afford these fees if we want to be a profitable company.”

In response, Apple spokesperson Fred Sainz touted the “choice” afforded by the changes, saying over 99% of developers would pay less or equal amounts under the new model. But Spotify and others argue the core problems with Apple’s fees and control over apps on iPhones remain unchanged.

With EU regulators closely monitoring the rollout of these new App Store rules, Apple finds itself under heightened scrutiny even as it makes concessions to appease critics. Whether these latest changes go far enough in promoting competition and fair practices remains an open question. In the meantime, Spotify looks poised to continue leading the fight.


Discover more from GadgetBond

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Comment

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Most Popular

Perplexity Computer is now open to Pro subscribers

NVIDIA Nemotron 3 Super lands on Perplexity, Agent API, and Computer

Apple Studio Display vs. Studio Display XDR: which one should you buy?

Prime Video Ultra is here — and it comes with 4K, Dolby Atmos, and no ads

Intel drops Core Ultra 200S Plus — and the specs are surprisingly good

Also Read
A smartphone fixed in landscape orientation to a bright yellow foul-pole fence using an articulated arm and clamp, showing a live view of a baseball field on its screen.

Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro is now an official MLB artifact

Apple MacBook Neo in citrus color.

MacBook Neo can run Windows, just don’t push it too hard

JBL Live 780NC on-ear headphones

JBL Live 780NC and 680NC launch with LDAC and adaptive noise cancelling

JBL PartyBox On-the-Go 2 Plus portable speaker.

JBL PartyBox On-the-Go 2 Plus and EasySing mics upgrade house parties with AI

Acer TravelMate P4 14 AI laptop

Acer launches TravelMate P4 and P2 Copilot+ laptops with Intel Core Ultra Series 3

Promotional graphic for Canva AI Magic Layers showing a glossy green chair in the center, floating cloud cutouts, a purple “Klara” label, a yellow “New Drop” badge, and large text reading “Let there be layers” on a blue-to-purple gradient background.

Canva debuts Magic Layers for editable AI content

Logo featuring a stylized orange asterisk-like symbol followed by the word 'Claude' in bold black serif font on a light beige background.

You’re getting 2x Claude usage right now — but only until March 27

A large flat-screen TV displaying the Amazon Prime Video logo against a white screen, set against a dark room with a blue ambient backlight glow, placed on a dark media console with two small decorative objects on either side.

Prime Video just killed free 4K — unless you pay up

Company Info
  • Homepage
  • Support my work
  • Latest stories
  • Company updates
  • GDB Recommends
  • Daily newsletters
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Write for us
  • Editorial guidelines
Legal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Security Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
Socials
Follow US

Disclosure: We love the products we feature and hope you’ll love them too. If you purchase through a link on our site, we may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. Read our ethics statement. Please note that pricing and availability are subject to change.

Copyright © 2026 GadgetBond. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information.