Microsoft Drops Developer Fees to Revitalize Its App Store

On 14 September 2025, Microsoft announced on its official channels that developers can now publish applications on the Microsoft Store free of charge, provided they have a personal Microsoft account. The policy applies across nearly 200 countries and regions, effectively eliminating the previous one-time $19 registration fee. The move is framed as a bid to attract more developers, expand the app ecosystem, and boost long-term user engagement with the Store.

The Microsoft Store currently boasts over 250 million monthly active users and supports a wide range of app types, including Win32, UWP, PWA, .NET, MAUI and Electron, allowing developers to choose their own in-app payment systems. For non-gaming applications, developers retain 100% of their revenue, contrasting with the revenue-sharing models seen with Apple and Google.

The article suggests the strategy aims to revitalise the Windows software ecosystem and strengthen the Store’s influence as a primary publishing platform alongside Windows’ growing AI-driven features.