Publishing needs two developer accounts: the Apple Developer Program, which has an annual fee (USD 99 a year at the time of writing), and a Google Play developer account with a one-time registration fee (USD 25). The stores take a commission only on digital content and subscriptions sold inside the app; real goods and services such as orders and bookings are paid through your own gateway with no store commission. The biggest cost is usually not the fees but building, running and updating the app. Always confirm current fees on Apple's and Google's official pages.
- how much does it cost to publish an app on the app store
- google play developer account fee
- apple developer account cost
- does apple take a commission on physical goods
- how to publish an app on google play for free
What does it cost to publish on the App Store and Google Play?
The cost to publish on the App Store and Google Play is lower than most people expect. You need two developer accounts: the Apple Developer Program, with an annual fee, and a Google Play Console account, with a one-time registration fee. At the time of writing, the published fees were USD 99 a year for Apple and a one-time USD 25 for Google, and they may be shown in local currency in some countries. Apple and Google set these amounts and can change them, so check their official pages before you register.
But account fees are not the whole story. There is store commission on some types of sales, company account requirements, and the ongoing cost of running and updating the app. This guide walks through each line so you can budget clearly. For the publishing steps themselves, read publishing your first app to the App Store and Google Play.
Store fees at a glance
| Item | Apple App Store | Google Play |
|---|---|---|
| Developer account fee | Annual Apple Developer Program membership | One-time registration fee |
| Amount at the time of writing | USD 99 per year | USD 25 once |
| Fee waiver | Available to eligible organizations such as some nonprofits, educational and government bodies | Uncommon |
| Company account | Requires a D-U-N-S number and a company website | Requires organization verification and a D-U-N-S number |
| If you stop paying | Apps are removed from the store when membership expires | No annual fee, but policies must still be followed |
| Review before release | Review for every version | Review, plus a closed test for new personal accounts |
Do apple and google take a commission on your sales?
This is the most important question for Gulf stores and service businesses, and the answer depends on what you sell:
- Subscriptions to digital content in the app
- Courses and videos consumed in the app
- Paid upgrades that unlock app features
- Virtual coins or points in games
- Physical goods: clothing, perfume, groceries
- Services delivered outside the app: delivery, salon, laundry
- Bookings: pitches, chalets, clinics
- Event tickets used at a real venue
In the first case you generally must use the store's in-app purchase system, and Apple and Google take a share of revenue. Both run reduced-rate programs for small developers and for long-running subscriptions; the exact terms vary by country and content type, so check the official guidelines.
In the second case you use your own payment gateway: mada, Apple Pay, STC Pay, Tabby and Tamara in Saudi Arabia, cards and Apple Pay in the UAE, KNET in Kuwait, with no store commission. That is why delivery, booking and store apps across the Gulf work normally with local gateways. Read the local payments guide.
Personal or company account?
You can enroll as an individual or an organization. The difference is not the fee but the name customers see and the requirements:
| Individual account | Company account | |
|---|---|---|
| Name shown in the store | Your personal name | The company's legal name |
| Requirements | Personal ID and payment method | D-U-N-S number, company website, company-domain email, signing authority |
| Customer trust | Lower for payment and sensitive-data apps | Higher, and required for some categories such as financial services |
| Team | Limited | Add members with different roles |
A D-U-N-S number is a company identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet. Getting one for Apple enrollment is usually free but can take days, so request it early. Make sure the company name matches your commercial registration or licence exactly.
The real costs after you publish
The store fees are small compared with what an app needs to stay alive. Plan for these lines:
- Building the app itself: usually the largest line, and it varies widely between an agency, a freelancer and an AI builder. Read how much it costs to build an app with AI.
- Server and database: the app needs a backend running around the clock for orders, sign-in and notifications.
- Yearly updates: Apple and Google ship new iOS and Android versions every year and sometimes require apps to update to the latest tooling.
- OTP messages and notifications: SMS verification has a per-message cost with providers.
- Design and content: an icon, screenshots in Arabic and English, and a store description.
- Support and reviews: time to reply to ratings and fix issues.
With Fanann you build real iOS and Android apps from the same conversation as your website, with a backend, database and in-region hosting ready, a QR preview on your phone, and guided step-by-step publishing to both stores. You will need your own two developer accounts, because the app is published under your name. To estimate the full budget, try the app cost calculator.
Steps to prepare your accounts before publishing
- 1Decide the account type
Individual or company. If you have a commercial registration or licence, a company account is usually better.
- 2Request a D-U-N-S number early
For a company account, check whether your company already has one or request it weeks before launch.
- 3Enroll in the Apple Developer Program
Use an Apple ID with two-factor authentication and pay the annual fee.
- 4Register in Google Play Console
Pay the registration fee and complete identity verification. For new personal accounts, line up testers for the closed test before public release; at the time of writing the requirement was 12 testers for 14 consecutive days.
- 5Prepare what both stores ask for
A privacy policy at a public URL, in-app account deletion, a demo account for reviewers, screenshots and a description.
Turn my current app into iOS and Android apps ready for store submission. I need: an icon and splash screen in the app's branding, phone-number sign-in, a 'Delete my account' button in settings, an Arabic and English privacy policy page at a public URL, a demo account for reviewers with sample data, permission prompts for notifications and location with text explaining why they are needed, and payment through the gateway (mada and Apple Pay) because we sell physical goods. Also prepare store screenshots and a description in Arabic and English.
Try it in FanannCan you start without paying store fees?
Yes. If you are not sure you need a store app yet, start with a progressive web app (PWA) that runs in the browser and can be added to the home screen, with no store fees and no review. Once customers prove they come back, move to a store app. Compare the two in PWA vs native app.
Before you submit for review, read why apps get rejected by the App Store and save yourself weeks of submitting and resubmitting.
Next step: decide today whether you will publish under your name or your company's, request a D-U-N-S number if you need one, then build a test version and try it on your phone before paying any fees.
Key takeaways
- Apple charges an annual developer fee and Google a one-time registration fee; check current amounts on their official pages.
- Store commission applies to digital content and in-app subscriptions, not to physical goods and real-world services.
- A company account usually needs a D-U-N-S number, and your company name appears as the seller.
- New personal Google Play accounts must run a closed test with testers before public release.
- The real ongoing costs are hosting, yearly iOS and Android updates, and support.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to publish an app on the App Store?
How much is a Google Play developer account?
Does Apple take a commission on physical goods?
Can I publish an app for free?
Do I need a company to publish an app?
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