In a significant shift aimed at fostering innovation, Microsoft has announced that individual developers can now publish their applications in the Microsoft Store without incurring any fees. This update, shared in a recent blog post on the Windows Developer platform, marks a notable departure from the previous requirement of a one-time payment of . Additionally, the process has been streamlined as developers are no longer required to provide a credit card to publish their apps.
Previously, Microsoft’s fee structure was already more accommodating than that of other major tech companies; for instance, Google charged a one-time fee of , while Apple’s annual fee for individual developers stood at . The decision to eliminate fees for individual developers was initially hinted at during the Build 2025 conference, and it has now been implemented across more than 200 markets.
Developers interested in publishing can navigate to the Microsoft Store developer page, where they will find an option labeled “Get Started.” It is important to note that while individual accounts can now publish for free, company accounts still require a one-time fee of . To complete the registration process, developers must possess a Microsoft account, provide identification, submit a selfie for verification, and fill out some additional details.
Microsoft Store improvements
Since its inception in 2012, the Microsoft Store has undergone significant transformations. Originally launched as the “Windows Store” alongside Windows 8, it faced criticism for its limited app offerings and performance issues. However, Microsoft has diligently worked to enhance the store, culminating in a rebranding to the “Microsoft Store” in 2021. This rebranding was part of a broader strategy to remove barriers for developers, allowing classic desktop applications to be featured within the store.
The Microsoft Store now accommodates a variety of app formats, including Win32, UWP, PWA, .NET MAUI, and Electron applications. Additional enhancements have made the store a more attractive platform for developers, such as the ability to host apps on their own servers. Over the years, the performance of the Microsoft Store has improved significantly, making it a more viable option for both developers and users alike.
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.
Freddy Castillo, Independent developer
Today, the Microsoft Store boasts a diverse array of popular applications, including Adobe Creative Cloud, Discord, Slack, and Spotify, alongside newer entries like ChatGPT. It has become a repository for some of the most essential tools for power users. While there are concerns that Microsoft may have missed the opportunity to fully capture user loyalty over the past decade, the ongoing improvements to the Microsoft Store suggest it is evolving into a genuinely useful platform.
As noted by our Senior Editor Zac Bowden, the Microsoft Store is increasingly being recognized as a must-use app store, encouraging users to explore its offerings. With the recent removal of registration fees for individual developers, the stage is set for a potential influx of new applications, which may further enrich the Microsoft Store’s ecosystem.
