Apple announced Tuesday that its App Store blocked over $2 billion in fraudulent transactions in 2024 alone, as the company ramps up messaging around platform security just ahead of WWDC 2025. Over the past five years, Apple has stopped more than $9 billion in fraud, underscoring the value of its tightly controlled app ecosystem.
⚖️ Post-Epic Games Ruling: Apple Defends Its Commission Model
This announcement follows a significant legal setback for Apple, in which Epic Games won the right for U.S. developers to include links to alternative payment systems in their apps. While major platforms like Fortnite, Spotify, and Amazon quickly shifted strategies, many smaller developers remain unsure if bypassing Apple’s 15%-30% commission is financially worth it due to risks like fraud, chargebacks, and piracy. techcrunch.com
🚫 Millions of Threats Blocked by Apple
Apple shared detailed metrics for 2024:
- ❌ 2M risky app submissions rejected
- 👤 146K developer accounts terminated for fraud
- 🆔 139K developer enrollments rejected
- 👥 711M customer accounts blocked at sign-up
- 🛑 129M accounts deactivated
- 🧿 10K pirate apps blocked
- 🚫 4.6M unauthorized app installs prevented
These numbers illustrate Apple’s expansive efforts to maintain platform integrity, particularly as alternative marketplaces gain ground under regulations like the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
📉 Small Developers Still Rely on App Store Security
While larger companies can absorb the costs and complexities of their own payment infrastructures, smaller developers face an uphill battle.Early data from RevenueCat suggests that most small businesses benefit more from Apple’s built-in protections and visibility—even with the commission—than they would from switching to third-party payment solutions.
🌍 App Store vs. Alternative Marketplaces
Under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, Apple now allows access to third-party app stores. However, Apple warns these marketplaces may expose developers to risks like pirated apps, data theft, and malware—risks the App Store was built to minimize.
📅 WWDC 2025: Strategic Timing for Transparency
With WWDC 2025 just days away, Apple’s release of these fraud prevention figures serves a dual purpose: promoting the App Store’s ongoing value while subtly warning developers of the pitfalls of stepping outside its ecosystem.
