Apple Merges iOS, WatchOS and Mac Developer Programs - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Merges iOS, WatchOS and Mac Developer Programs

by

Apple today announced that it is merging all of its developer programs into a single developer program, letting developers pay one fee to access both Mac and iOS developer tools. Before today, Apple offered a Mac developer program and an iOS developer program, accessible with separate $100 fees.

applemergeddevprograms

The new Apple Developer Program combines everything you need to develop, distribute, and manage your apps on all Apple platforms into one single program, making it easier than ever to bring your creativity to over a billion customers around the world. Get your apps ready for the App Store on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, by enrolling in the Apple Developer Program today.

It now costs $99 to access all SDKs and betas of iOS 9, OS X, and the company's newest software platform, watchOS. Apple has created a support document to explain the changes and walk developers through the process of transitioning to the new membership program.

All individual and organization developer accounts have been upgraded to the new program and can access the tools for iOS and OS X. Membership expiration dates and Technical Support Incidents have not been changed. For those who had memberships to both former programs, the new single account has an extended expiration date that includes the sum of days that remained in each program.

Top Rated Comments

R
Razeus
142 months ago
And yet can't merge iCloud accounts.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kwokaaron Avatar
kwokaaron
142 months ago
They really shouldn't have used a number as the logo for the watchOS. Makes it confusing since iOS already uses it.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BillyBobBongo Avatar
BillyBobBongo
142 months ago
Sounds good, never really understood the need to separate them all in the first place. I must say though, I have and iOS developer account but have been able to download OS X stuff since Yosemite came out.

Guess the change in thinking has been on the cards for a while now.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Peel Avatar
Peel
142 months ago
They really shouldn't have used a number as the logo for the watchOS. Makes it confusing since iOS already uses it.
Not only that, but the iOS logo background is actually the shape of the Apple Watch, where as the WatchOS circle, well... isn't.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jayducharme Avatar
jayducharme
142 months ago
Smart move. I wouldn't be surprised if the double-fees were one reason why Mac app development seemed to lag behind iOS.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kwokaaron Avatar
kwokaaron
142 months ago
Yeah but the lack of women in development! [/social media outrage]
Well yeah but one's a roman numeral, the other is a number with a squared off logo and the other is a number that's round. I guess ya just gotta remember shapes and numbers.
LOL. Kind of like one of those cognitive ability tests you do when applying for a job.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in September With These 10 New Features

Monday April 20, 2026 7:13 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Read Full Article • 48 comments
Sad iPhone 18 Feature

Leaker: Apple to Downgrade iPhone 18 in Two Ways

Wednesday April 22, 2026 8:02 am PDT by
Following the emergence of a rumor that Apple is planning to downgrade the iPhone 18 to cut costs, further detail has emerged suggesting that display and chip specifications will see downgrades. Earlier this week, the leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital" said that the iPhone 18 features "certain manufacturing downgrades" that bring it more into line with the low-cost iPhone 18e model. The...
Read Full Article • 199 comments
Apple Maps General

Tim Cook Calls Apple Maps Launch His 'First Really Big Mistake' as CEO

Thursday April 23, 2026 5:29 am PDT by
Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook has named the botched 2012 launch of Apple Maps as his "first really big mistake" in the role, according to a Bloomberg report covering the town hall meeting that was held Tuesday with his recently announced successor, John Ternus. The Maps app launched with mislabeled landmarks, faulty directions, and a user experience that fell well short of Google Maps at the...
Read Full Article • 213 comments