Huawei was reported to be considering a commission of about 20% on some game-related in-app purchases—not a confirmed 20% fee on every HarmonyOS app. Bloomberg reported the proposal on June 18, 2024. Huawei’s public developer materials reviewed for this article do not establish a universal 20% rate, so developers should check the terms for their specific market, app and billing arrangement.
What Huawei was reported to be considering
Bloomberg reported on June 18, 2024, citing people familiar with the matter, that Huawei was weighing app-store fees after previously keeping HarmonyOS free of such charges as it sought to attract developers. The reported figure was about 20% for games, particularly revenue from in-app purchases—not an official rate announced by Huawei. Read Bloomberg’s report.
The report did not give a launch date or establish that Huawei adopted the proposal. It also did not specify whether the discussion covered every country, app category or transaction type. A report about a proposal is not evidence that developers were subsequently charged that rate.
Which transactions does the reported figure cover?
The reported discussion centered on games and in-app purchases. It should not be treated as a fee for submitting or developing a HarmonyOS app. Huawei’s public platform materials describe several distinct ways of distributing and monetizing apps, but do not assign the reported 20% to all of them.
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| Transaction or revenue stream | What the reporting establishes |
|---|---|
| Free download | No evidence that the reported commission applies. |
| Paid app download | Huawei supports paid apps, but the report does not establish a rate for downloads. |
| Game in-app purchase | About 20% was reported as under discussion for games, particularly in-app purchases; adoption was not confirmed. |
| Subscriptions | Huawei supports IAP subscriptions, but the report does not establish a rate for them. |
| Physical goods or off-platform services | The report does not establish whether these are covered. |
| Advertising | Separate from the reported app-store commission; no applicable rate is established by the report. |
| Joint-operation arrangement | May have separate commercial terms; the report does not establish a standard rate for these deals. |
Huawei’s IAP service supports digital purchases and subscriptions. That capability does not by itself establish what percentage Huawei retains. The applicable terms depend on the actual billing route and any agreement with Huawei.
Has Huawei formally introduced a universal 20% fee?
Huawei’s public policy and product pages describe paid apps, in-app purchases, joint operations and revenue-sharing categories, but the pages reviewed do not publish a blanket 20% schedule. See the Huawei policy center and its AppGallery developer overview. That is not proof that no private or region-specific terms exist; it means the public material cited here does not verify a universal rate.
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Huawei’s Chinese-language product-pricing documentation says displayed in-app prices include tax and that tax is deducted before revenue is shared with developers. This is one reason a headline commission alone cannot determine a developer’s net proceeds.
Why games matter to the economics
Games can earn repeatedly from virtual currency, items, battle passes, subscriptions, limited-time events and downloadable content. A commission on those purchases could therefore affect recurring revenue more than a fee on a one-time paid download. The reported game-focused figure should not be extrapolated to other app categories without an applicable Huawei rate card or contract.
Bloomberg’s report placed the possible fee in the context of Huawei’s stronger smartphone position in China and its growing hardware and software ecosystem. One plausible business interpretation is that a platform can move from using fee-free distribution to attract developers toward monetizing transactions as its audience and services expand; this is analysis, not a stated Huawei rationale. The Business Times also summarized the reported comparison.
How to compare the reported figure with other stores
The 2024 coverage contrasted the proposed figure with the commonly cited 30% headline rate associated with Apple and Google, and noted that some Chinese Android stores could charge substantially more for certain game transactions. These are broad comparisons, not a like-for-like schedule: Apple and Google have programs, exceptions and regional rules, while Chinese stores may use different or negotiated arrangements.
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A nominal commission is only one part of a developer’s economics. Payment processing, taxes, refunds, chargebacks, promotion, user acquisition and technical services may be treated differently across platforms. Compare the effective net proceeds for the same transaction and market, not just headline percentages.
Huawei’s current developer services and incentives
Huawei’s public ecosystem includes AppGallery distribution and app operations, AppGallery Connect tools, IAP for digital purchases, joint operations and paid promotion. Its AppGallery materials describe cost-per-download promotion but do not state a universal current price. Huawei’s paid-services agreement references paid promotion, presentation services, developer membership and AG Connect services; it does not provide one universal price list in the material reviewed.
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Huawei is also offering developer incentives, which can coexist with transaction fees or revenue sharing. Its 2026 HarmonyOS incentive program covers apps formally launched for HarmonyOS 5.0 and later. Huawei states a cumulative maximum of ¥1 million per developer, subject to the program rules and available funding. The page lists registration from April 15 through September 25, 2026; qualifying merchant services must be opened and approved by September 30, 2026. The program measures user activity through October 31 and requires qualifying apps to remain available through December 31, 2026. These dates and terms apply to that program, not to a general commission policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How developers should assess their own costs
Before estimating proceeds, identify the exact transaction, market and contract. A free download, paid download, IAP purchase and negotiated joint-operation deal may have different terms. Mainland China and overseas distribution may also differ, as may native HarmonyOS apps and older Android-compatible packages.
- Confirm whether the app uses Huawei IAP, another approved payment route, paid distribution or a negotiated operations arrangement.
- Check the current developer agreement and market-specific terms for the applicable share, tax treatment, refunds and settlement rules.
- Model net proceeds after tax, platform and payment charges, refunds or chargebacks, promotion, localization, support and ongoing maintenance.
- Include the cost of a native HarmonyOS build, Huawei-service integration, device testing, separate release maintenance and applicable review or compliance requirements.
- Evaluate any incentive separately: eligibility for cash support does not establish a lower commission or prove that no fees apply.
Huawei’s developer portal lists HarmonyOS development, release, testing, analytics and AppGallery tools. Those services may be relevant to the cost of reaching Huawei users, but they do not settle the commercial terms for a particular app.
What remains unverified
- Whether Huawei ever adopted the reported approximately 20% figure as a formal rate.
- The current standard rate, if any, for each category of transaction.
- Whether any such terms vary by market, app category, developer size or negotiated agreement.
- Whether the 2024 discussion was limited to China.
- How any proposal would apply across native HarmonyOS releases and older Android-compatible distribution.
For a specific release, only current Huawei terms or a developer’s contract can establish the applicable charges. The 2024 news report is not a substitute for either.
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