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Cost to Publish App on App Store 📱

Complete breakdown of costs to publish your app on Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Developer fees, commissions, and hidden costs explained.

Complete breakdown
2025 updated
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Publishing made easy with NextNative

NextNative includes App Store & Google Play launch guides, production-ready boilerplate, all required features, and 3 months support to help you get approved on first try.

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Launch guides

Step-by-step for both stores

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Complete features

Auth, payments, database

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3 months support

Hands-on help included

Get NextNative - 50% Off →

$149 (was $299) · Launch guides included · 14-day money-back guarantee

Quick Comparison

🍎

Apple App Store

Developer Account:$99/year
Commission:15-30%
Review Time:1-3 days
Updates:Free, unlimited
🤖

Google Play Store

Developer Account:$25 one-time
Commission:15-30%
Review Time:Hours to days
Updates:Free, unlimited

Annual Fee Calculator

First Year Cost

$124
Apple Developer:$99/year
Google Play Developer:$25 one-time
+ 15-30% commission on all sales/subscriptions

Commission Rates Explained

✓15% Commission (Small Business Program)

You qualify for the reduced 15% commission rate if you earned less than $1 million in the previous calendar year.

Example: $10,000 revenue = $1,500 commission, $8,500 take-home

30% Commission (Standard)

Standard commission rate for apps earning over $1 million annually, or for the portion above $1M.

Example: $10,000 revenue = $3,000 commission, $7,000 take-home
💡 Pro Tip: Both Apple and Google automatically enroll eligible developers in their small business programs. No application needed!

Additional Costs to Consider

📜 Business/LLC Registration
Required for business accounts in some regions
$0-500
💳 Payment Processing
If selling outside app stores (web, physical goods)
~3%
🔒 App Store Optimization (ASO)
Keywords, screenshots, A/B testing tools
$0-5,000
🖼️ App Assets
Icons, screenshots, promo graphics
$0-1,000
📊 Analytics Tools
Firebase, Mixpanel, Amplitude (often free tier)
$0-200/mo
🔔 Push Notification Service
Firebase, OneSignal (free for most apps)
$0-50/mo
☁️ Backend/Hosting
Depends on users and features
$0-500/mo
🛡️ App Signing Certificate
Free with developer accounts
Included

How to Publish Your App

🍎Apple App Store

1
Create Apple Developer account ($99/year)
2
Set up App Store Connect
3
Generate app signing certificate
4
Create app listing (name, description, screenshots)
5
Upload build via Xcode or Transporter
6
Submit for review (1-3 days)
7
App goes live after approval

🤖Google Play Store

1
Create Google Play Developer account ($25 one-time)
2
Set up Google Play Console
3
Create signing key (keystore file)
4
Create store listing (name, description, graphics)
5
Upload AAB file
6
Submit for review (hours to 1 day)
7
App goes live after approval

Free Tools to Help You Publish

📝
App Store Metadata Generator
Create titles, descriptions & keywords
📸
Screenshot Generator
Create beautiful app store screenshots
🎨
App Icon Generator
Generate all required icon sizes
🔑
App Store Connect API
Automate app uploads & updates
🚀

Ready to Publish?

NextNative includes everything for successful app store publishing: App Store & Google Play launch guides, production-ready Next.js + Capacitor boilerplate with authentication, in-app purchases, push notifications, and 3 months developer support. Get approved faster.

Get NextNative - 50% Off →

$149 (was $299) · Launch guides included · 14-day money-back guarantee

✓Lifetime updates✓3 months support✓Team license

Publishing FAQ

How much does it cost to publish an app on the App Store?

Apple charges $99/year for an Apple Developer account. Google Play charges a one-time $25 fee. Both take 15-30% commission on sales and subscriptions.

Can I publish an app for free?

You cannot publish to official app stores for free. However, you can distribute Android apps as APK files directly (sideloading) without Google Play fees, though this limits your reach.

How long does app review take?

Apple typically reviews apps in 1-3 days. Google Play reviews usually complete within hours to 1 day. Complex apps or first submissions may take longer.

Do I need both developer accounts?

Only if you want to publish on both platforms. Most businesses publish on both iOS and Android to maximize reach, totaling $124 for the first year.