Apple Increases Its App Store Prices in Europe and Asia

Just recently, Apple made an announcement that it will increase prices for in-app purchases in its App Store in a range of different countries in Europe and Asia. The new prices should appear in the App Store on October 5 and it is definitely sad news for people living in these countries, including South Korea, Egypt, Japan, Pakistan, Poland, Vietnam, Chile, and more. All countries that use Euro will also notice this change.

Apple hasn’t provided information as to why they decided to raise the prices, but it is most likely due to the fact that currencies in these countries have lowered compared to the dollar. The increase in prices is different depending on the region. For instance, the prices in Japan are increased by up to 35% while in South Korea, they are increased by up to 25%. When it comes to the countries that use Euro, their price raise is lower — about 8-10%. If we take a country such as Vietnam, the prices also come with an applicable tax, so there is a definite difference depending on where you live.

Back in the summer of 2021, Apple already hiked its in-app purchase prices for users in countries that have Euro as their currency, in the UK, and also South Africa. In such a way, many European countries experience a second raise over the course of two years. When these changes are accepted, all users will be able to see updated prices in their My Apps section of the store.

According to the data revealed by Apptopia, the prices for in-app purchases increased by 40% since 2021 in App Store. Compared to App Store, the price hike in Google Pay has been significantly humbler, only 9%. 

What do you think about these price changes? Are they justifiable? Please, share your thoughts in the comments below!