Apple has announced the launch of its Advanced Commerce API, a new tool designed to support a wider range of in-app purchase formats, including subscriptions and content add-ons. The move aims to provide developers with more flexibility in their business models, while maintaining the company's existing commission structure.

The Advanced Commerce API is intended to facilitate billions of transactions annually, enabling developers to grow their businesses and deliver a world-class customer experience. According to Apple, the new API will support three primary use cases: apps with large content catalogs and frequent updates, apps offering creator-led content with one-time or renewable subscriptions, and apps providing add-ons within subscription services.

In an accompanying support document, Apple outlined the eligibility criteria for apps and developers to participate in the program. The company emphasized that the Advanced Commerce API is designed to support developers' evolving business models, which increasingly involve complex and dynamic content offerings.

The introduction of the Advanced Commerce API may be seen as a response to Apple's previous requests to creator platform Patreon, which was asked to switch to the App Store billing system for creator content. Patreon has since agreed to migrate to Apple's payment system for its iOS app, with completion expected by November 2025. The new API could potentially support use cases like Patreon's more effectively.

The launch of the Advanced Commerce API also comes as Apple seeks to create more value for developers within its ecosystem. Following the EU's mandate to allow alternative payment processing and third-party app stores on the platform, Apple has been working to enhance its offerings for developers. Recent initiatives include the approval of retro game emulators worldwide and the introduction of a feature enabling developers to offer discounts to customers with lapsed subscriptions.

Industry observers will be watching closely to see how the Advanced Commerce API is adopted by developers and how it impacts the overall app ecosystem. As Apple continues to evolve its platform and policies, the company's ability to balance its own interests with those of its developer community will be crucial to its long-term success.

In the broader context, Apple's move highlights the ongoing shift towards more flexible and dynamic business models in the app economy. As developers increasingly focus on delivering subscription-based services and complex content offerings, the need for more sophisticated and adaptable payment systems will only continue to grow. The Advanced Commerce API may be an important step in this direction, but it remains to be seen how it will be received by developers and how it will shape the future of the app industry.