Apple Merges iOS, WatchOS and Mac Developer Programs

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

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Razeus

55 months ago

And yet can't merge iCloud accounts.

Rating: 8 Votes

kwokaaron

55 months ago

They really shouldn't have used a number as the logo for the watchOS. Makes it confusing since iOS already uses it.

Rating: 4 Votes

BillyBobBongo

55 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.

Rating: 4 Votes

Peel

55 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.

Rating: 3 Votes

jayducharme

55 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.

Rating: 3 Votes

kwokaaron

55 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.

Rating: 2 Votes

OneBagTravel

55 months ago

Yeah but the lack of women in development! [/social media outrage]

They really shouldn't have used a number as the logo for the watchOS. Makes it confusing since iOS already uses it.

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.

Rating: 2 Votes