UK CMA consults on Apple and Google app store payment rules
New digital competition proposals place the CMA at the centre of UK app store reform.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority has opened consultations on new requirements for Apple and Google under the country’s digital markets competition regime.
Proposed steering requirements would allow app developers to direct UK users to payment options outside Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. The CMA said Apple currently bans steering in the UK, while Google restricts it.
According to the regulator, allowing developers to communicate with customers about off-platform options could increase competition, reduce payment costs and support innovation across mobile services.
Consultation proposals also cover principles to ensure that any steering fees charged by Apple and Google are fair and reasonable. The CMA said such fees should be based on evidence and should be lower than current app store charges.
Alongside the steering proposals, officials are seeking views on a potential requirement for Apple to provide developers with access to near-field communication functionality on iOS.
Broader NFC access could allow UK fintechs and developers to support contactless payments from within their own apps. It could also support future payment methods, including account-to-account payments, digital currencies and stablecoins, as well as non-financial uses such as digital ID and car keys.
Responses to the steering conduct requirement are due by 28 July 2026, while views on the potential NFC requirement are due by 21 July 2026. The CMA will decide later this year whether to impose new obligations.
Why does it matter?
The consultations show the UK’s digital markets regime moving into targeted conduct rules for major mobile platforms. If adopted, the measures could weaken Apple and Google’s control over in-app payments and give developers more freedom to offer alternative purchasing channels. The NFC proposal also widens the debate beyond app store commissions, addressing Apple’s control over device functionality that can shape competition in mobile payments, digital identity and other services.
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