Apple and Google Agree to Make Changes in UK App Stores

Google and Apple agreed to change the way they do things on their respective marketplaces in the UK. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking feedback on proposals Apple and Google separately submitted after each was declared to hold a significant market status late in 2025. The authority believes the suggestions offer a host of potential benefits to businesses using app stores, including greater clarity, certainty, and fairness.

Apple and Google are offering to ensure fair treatment of apps submitted to their stores, in particular items that compete with their own wares. The same goes for ranking services on offer. There are also commitments to protect app data that developers provide during review procedures, along with ensuring the companies do not use this unfairly. Apple also plans to make it easier for developers to employ interoperability features in its OSes, a move the CMA stated would give businesses more confidence when providing services to consumers.

CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell hailed the pledges as a big win for UK businesses and the regulatory body itself. The CMA moved swiftly to secure the commitments from Apple and Google that are, she said, a validation of the nation’s digital markets competition regime. “These are important first steps while we continue to work on a broad range of additional measures to improve Apple and Google’s app store services”, Cardell continued. She listed digital wallets and IDs as examples of the services set to benefit.

The CMA believes the UK app economy is the biggest in Europe by revenue and developer numbers, stating the value hit £28 billion in 2025. But it believes the sector is hampered by Apple and Google holding an effective duopoly, though it emphasises this does not necessarily translate into anti-competitive actions. Feedback on the proposed commitments is due by 3 March and, if accepted, the pledges would go into force on 1 April.