Confused by app store and webshop fees? Try our commission calculator
MobileGamer Business has launched a commission calculator tool, built with Claude, designed to help game developers decode the increasingly complex fee structures of Apple and Google’s app stores. The tool draws directly from both companies’ official documentation to estimate what each platform will take from in-app purchases across varying scenarios.
The calculator accounts for multiple variables that affect developer payouts, including which app store platform is used, geographic location, payment processing methods (whether handled on-store or off-store), and participation in different developer programs offered by Apple and Google. It also incorporates fees charged by third-party webshop platforms and payment processors, providing a more comprehensive breakdown of total revenue deductions developers can expect.
The complexity addressed by this tool reflects growing frustration in the mobile games industry, where fee structures have become increasingly opaque. Both Apple and Google have implemented tiered pricing models, special programs for certain developers, and regional variations that make it difficult to predict actual revenue from in-app purchases.
MobileGamer Business emphasizes that the calculator should be used as a guide rather than a definitive resource, cautioning that actual results may vary based on specific circumstances. The tool is particularly relevant as developers navigate alternative app stores, non-standard payment providers, and Apple and Google’s various developer programs, each with potentially different commission rates and requirements.