Copy of Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Apple and Google agreed to make changes to their app stores in the UK.
- Feb 22
- 1 min read
In October 2025, the CMA designated both companies’ app stores as having “strategic market status.”
The designation followed the CMA’s earlier statement that Apple and Google held an “effective duopoly” in the UK app store market.
The commitments from Apple and Google include:
Not giving preferential treatment to their own apps.
Providing transparency on how third-party apps are approved for sale.
Not using data gathered from third-party app developers in an unfair way.
The CMA said it will closely monitor implementation of the commitments.
The CMA said it will formally require changes if the companies do not comply with the commitments.
The CMA stated that the UK app economy is the largest in Europe by revenue and number of developers.
The CMA estimates the UK app economy generates about 1.5% of UK GDP and supports approximately 400,000 jobs.
Apple stated it faces strong competition in its markets and that the commitments reflect its engagement with the CMA.
Google stated it believes its existing Google Play practices are fair and transparent and welcomed resolving the CMA’s concerns collaboratively.
Apple and Google have previously warned against regulatory approaches similar to those in the European Union.
In the EU, Apple has made changes including offering alternatives to its pre-installed Safari browser and implementing interoperability measures.
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