Individual developers can now publish their applications to the Microsoft Store without the burden of onboarding fees, a significant change that is now available globally across nearly 200 markets. This new initiative eliminates the necessity for a credit card, addressing a common hurdle that has hindered many creators worldwide. By removing these one-time fees, Microsoft is fostering a more inclusive and accessible platform, enabling a broader range of developers to innovate, share, and flourish within the Windows ecosystem.
The Microsoft Store is currently utilized by over 250 million active users each month, making it the most trusted and scalable distribution channel for PC applications across both consumer and commercial devices. This shift reflects Microsoft’s commitment to nurturing the developer ecosystem, bolstered by ongoing feedback from the community.
“Eliminating registration fees for individual developers isn’t just a technical decision: it’s a statement of respect for those who create from the periphery, with limited resources but powerful ideas. Thank you for opening this door: not just for me, but for an entire community that can now dream out loud.” – Freddy Castillo, Independent developer
“Over the past year, our daily new installs grew 10x on the Microsoft Store. All we focus on is building great apps — the Store does the heavy lifting by connecting us with users, driving targeted traffic, and providing sales funnel insights and customer support tools. This lets us dedicate our time to creating the best experiences for Windows users worldwide.” – HUXSoft, Independent publisher
“Recent improvements in the Microsoft Store led to a strong increase in our user base: daily active users of our flagship app, backiee, grew from 10,000 to 40,000 year-over-year, driving a sixfold revenue increase. We also reached a major milestone of 7 million downloads, while continuing to deliver unique features for our users.” – Good2Create, Independent publisher
What’s new in onboarding?
- Free registration: Individual developers can sign up without any payment, simply by logging in with a personal Microsoft account and following a user-friendly guided interface.
- Lightweight ID verification: Quickly verify your identity by scanning a valid government-issued ID alongside a selfie, a process supported in all global markets.
- Streamlined setup: With auto-filled profile details and immediate access to Partner Center upon verification, developers can transition from sign-up to app submission in mere minutes.
Why build for Microsoft Store?
The Windows developer platform is undergoing rapid evolution, driven by advancements such as Copilot+ PCs, AI innovation, and a flourishing ecosystem. The Microsoft Store stands at the forefront of this progress, offering developers unparalleled reach, flexibility, and trust.
- Massive reach: The Store attracts over 250 million users each month.
- All app types welcome: Developers can publish various app types, including Win32 (with .NET WPF and WinForms), UWP, PWA, .NET MAUI, or Electron apps, without needing to alter their code.
- Trusted distribution: Applications can be discovered through Windows Search, ensuring secure installations while also reaching enterprise customers via Intune.
- Commerce flexibility: Developers can utilize Microsoft’s commerce platform at low revenue share rates or opt to implement their own in-app commerce system, retaining 100% of the revenue for non-game apps.
- Complimentary hosting, free signing, and automatic updates (MSIX): By packaging apps as MSIX, Microsoft will host the binaries and cover distribution costs. Additionally, apps will be signed for free to enhance trust and security, while Windows automatically delivers updates, ensuring users always have the latest version without extra effort.
Ready to publish?
To embark on this exciting journey, developers can open their accounts at storedeveloper.microsoft.com.
