Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority has opened a consultation on whether the iOS and Android app stores must let rival payment systems operate inside their platforms. The move targets the 15% to 30% transaction fees that Apple and Google levy on developers, a cost small firms say inflates prices. The proposal arrives as the UK seeks to modernise its market rules ahead of the election.

Regulators argue the duopoly stifles competition and hampers innovation in digital commerce. By compelling the stores to accept alternative processors, the CMA hopes to lower barrier costs and create a more level playing field for fintech startups seeking UK market access. The consultation follows similar antitrust actions in the EU and US, where lawmakers have pressured Big Tech on fee structures.

The outcome could reshape revenue models for the two platform owners, whose global app‑store earnings exceed $70 billion annually. If the CMA imposes fee caps or mandatory third‑party access, developers may see immediate cost reductions, while consumers could benefit from lower-priced apps. Analysts predict the shift could shave 5% off average app prices. The authority will publish its final recommendations later this year.