# Apple Developer Enterprise Program: Cost and Requirements > The Apple Developer Enterprise Program costs $299 a year and is for internal apps at organizations with 100+ employees. It can't publish to the App Store. Original page: [Apple Developer Enterprise Program: Cost and Requirements](https://devoria.fr/en/blog/apple-developer-enterprise-program-cost-requirements) Author: [Mehdi Azizi](https://devoria.fr/en/mehdi-azizi) Published: 2026-11-04 Content last revised: 2026-11-04 The Apple Developer Enterprise Program lets a large organization distribute its own apps to its employees, outside the App Store. It costs $299 a year, and Apple only opens it to legal entities with 100 or more employees, after verification. **It doesn't let you publish on the App Store or distribute an app to the public.** For an indie developer or a small team, it's almost never the right program. The standard program, at $99, covers the App Store, TestFlight, ad hoc distribution and custom apps for a business. I publish my iOS apps, including Solys and TradaZen, with that standard program. This guide is based on Apple's pages and its Enterprise license agreement, read on October 15, 2026. ## What is the Enterprise Program? According to [the program's official page](https://developer.apple.com/programs/enterprise/), it's for developing and deploying proprietary, internal-use apps for an organization's employees. Distribution goes through a secure internal system or a mobile device management (MDM) solution. The [Enterprise license agreement](https://developer.apple.com/support/downloads/terms/apple-developer-enterprise-program/Apple-Developer-Enterprise-Program-License-Agreement-English.pdf), in its October 13, 2026 version, spells out the scope. An internal app is custom-built for the organization's needs, like an inventory app. It must not be downloadable from a public website. Its authorized users are employees, certain contractors bound by contract and, depending on the case, students at an institution or doctors at a hospital. **An app offered to other businesses, resellers or the general public is not an internal app, even if it's customized.** The agreement rules it out in black and white. ## How much does the Apple Developer Enterprise Program cost? The price is **299 USD per membership year**, or the equivalent in local currency, according to [Apple's help on enrollment](https://developer.apple.com/help/account/membership/program-enrollment/). The standard program costs 99 USD. Three things to know before comparing: - **You only pay after acceptance.** Apple verifies the organization first, then sends it the agreement to accept and the payment. - **It's not an add-on to the standard program.** Apple requires an Apple Account separate from the one already publishing on the App Store. - **So an organization that also wants the App Store pays for two memberships**, on two different accounts. ## Eligibility requirements in 2026 The program page lists five requirements. Your organization must: 1. have **100 or more employees**; 2. be a **legal entity**: no DBAs, fictitious business names, trade names or branches; 3. use the program **only for internal apps**, distributed privately to its employees; 4. have **systems that restrict downloads to employees** and protect the account credentials; 5. **pass Apple's verification interview**, then its ongoing evaluation. Enrollment also requires: - a **D-U-N-S Number**, free in most countries, covered in [Apple D-U-N-S Number](https://devoria.fr/en/blog/apple-d-u-n-s-number-free); - a **public website**, on a domain associated with the organization; - someone who can **legally bind the organization**: founder, executive, senior project lead, or someone authorized by a senior executive; - an **Apple Account with two-factor authentication**, since enrollment is web-only. During verification, Apple also checks that the App Store, Apple Business, ad hoc distribution or TestFlight don't already cover your need. **Apple can reject an application at its sole discretion, and re-verifies the organization at every renewal.** ## Why it can't publish to the App Store The membership table in [Apple's help on developer accounts](https://developer.apple.com/help/account/basics/about-your-developer-account/) is clear. Enterprise members get certificates, identifiers and profiles, technical support and Mac app notarization. **They don't get App Store Connect, TestFlight or Xcode Cloud.** No App Store Connect means no listing, no review submission, no in-app purchases. The agreement says the same thing. To distribute an iOS app to third parties, it points you to the App Store or to custom app distribution. Expo sums it up in its [page on internal distribution](https://docs.expo.dev/build/internal-distribution/): Enterprise distribution is for apps restricted to a large organization's employees that can't go through the App Store. ## The table: your need, the right solution, its limit The limits come from Apple's pages read on October 15, 2026. Pick the first row that describes your case. | Your need | Right solution | Limit | | ----------------------------- | ------------------- | ------------------------------- | | Publish for everyone | Developer Program | Apple review | | Get a beta tested | TestFlight | 10,000 external testers | | Install on your iPhones | Ad hoc distribution | 100 devices per product family | | Custom app for a client | Custom app | Review, Apple Business required | | Direct link, limited audience | Unlisted app | Link open to anyone who has it | | Internal tool, small team | Custom app | Apple review | | Internal tool, 100+ employees | Enterprise Program | Employees only | **The Enterprise Program only shows up in the last row.** For every other need, the standard program is enough. ## Alternatives for an indie developer or a small team **The standard program.** At $99 a year, it gives you App Store Connect, TestFlight and distribution certificates. The steps are in [Apple developer account: cost and enrollment](https://devoria.fr/en/blog/apple-developer-account-cost-free-or-99). **TestFlight for betas.** Apple allows 100 internal testers and [up to 10,000 external testers](https://developer.apple.com/testflight/), after a beta review of the first build. The walkthrough is in [TestFlight: test your iPhone app](https://devoria.fr/en/blog/testflight-test-iphone-app-before-submitting). **Ad hoc distribution.** You register each device, up to [100 per product family per membership year](https://developer.apple.com/help/account/devices/devices-overview/). With Expo, EAS internal distribution creates the ad hoc profile for you, as I explain in the guide on [certificates and provisioning profiles](https://devoria.fr/en/blog/ios-certificates-provisioning-profiles-expo). **Custom apps, through Apple Business.** This is the direct alternative to the Enterprise Program. In App Store Connect, you choose [private distribution](https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/manage-your-apps-availability/set-distribution-methods) and enter the organization's ID. The app goes through Apple's review, then shows up in that organization's Apple Business account, which deploys it via MDM or redemption codes. You make this choice before approval: after that, you have to create a new listing. Recent update: according to [Apple's announcement](https://www.apple.com/fr/newsroom/2026/03/introducing-apple-business/), Apple Business has replaced Apple Business Manager since April 14, 2026. It's free and includes a device management solution. **So for a small team, a custom app covers the need for an internal tool, no Enterprise Program required.** **Unlisted apps.** The app is on the App Store, but [only reachable through a direct link](https://developer.apple.com/support/unlisted-app-distribution/), outside search and charts. Apple mentions partner tools and employee resources. Anyone with the link can install it, so add a login to the app. ### Building for a client? Apple covers this case in its enrollment help. For a client's internal app, you enroll in the standard program as an individual, and the client creates an Apple Business account. You then distribute the app privately to their organization. For a public app, the client enrolls and submits the app, after adding you to their team. ## The Enterprise Program with Expo If your organization is eligible, EAS can sign for this program. According to the [eas.json reference](https://docs.expo.dev/eas/json/), the `enterpriseProvisioning` option of an internal distribution profile picks between a `universal` profile and an `adhoc` profile. Expo recommends `universal`, which saves you from registering each device. The number of devices is then unlimited, according to its internal distribution page. ## The risks: revocation and termination The program gives you a lot of freedom, and the agreement keeps it on a tight leash. - **Apple can revoke your certificates at any time.** Section 5.3 mentions, among other things, a breach of the agreement, a compromised certificate or malicious code. - **A revocation shuts down your apps.** According to [Apple's help on certificates](https://developer.apple.com/help/account/certificates/certificates-overview/), users can no longer launch an app signed with a revoked in-house distribution certificate. You have to redistribute a version signed with a new certificate. - **Apple can notify your users.** The agreement lets it inform employees and authorized users when it deems this necessary for their security. - **Offboarding is on you.** Section 6.1 requires you to recover devices and remove certificates and profiles from people who leave the organization. - **Renewal isn't guaranteed.** The organization is verified again at every renewal. **Distributing an Enterprise app to customers or the public violates the agreement: it's one of the revocation reasons Apple lists.** And a revocation hits every app signed with that certificate, not just the one at fault. ## Before you choose your program Next, the page [publish an app on the App Store](https://devoria.fr/en/expertise/publish-an-app-on-the-app-store) covers every step of publishing. And if you don't have a Mac, [publish an iOS app without a Mac](https://devoria.fr/en/blog/publish-ios-app-without-mac-expo-eas) shows internal distribution with EAS. Before paying for a membership, take the [free diagnostic](https://devoria.fr/en/diagnostic): it tells you where your project stands and sends you my Apple anti-rejection checklist. To build the app and publish it, the [iOS & Android Kit](https://devoria.fr/en/kits/ios) follows the four-step path with the starter code from my apps, at your own pace. And if you're torn between private distribution, ad hoc and TestFlight for a specific case, [book an hour with me](https://devoria.fr/en/coaching). ## Frequently asked questions ### How much does the Apple Developer Enterprise Program cost? 299 USD per membership year, or the equivalent in local currency. You pay after your organization is accepted. It doesn't replace the standard 99 USD program, which you still need for the App Store. ### Can you publish on the App Store with an Enterprise account? No. Enterprise members don't have access to App Store Connect or TestFlight. For the App Store, you need a standard program membership, on a different Apple Account. ### How many employees do you need for the Enterprise Program? 100 or more, according to the program page read on October 15, 2026. The organization must also be a legal entity, have a D-U-N-S Number and pass Apple's verification interview. ### Can an indie developer enroll in the Enterprise Program? No, you need an organization with 100 or more employees. An indie developer goes with the standard program. For a client's internal app, Apple provides custom apps, distributed through the client's Apple Business account. ### What happens if Apple revokes the Enterprise certificate? Apps signed with that certificate no longer launch. You have to sign a new version with a new certificate, then redistribute it. A breach of the agreement, like distributing beyond employees, is one of the reasons for revocation. ### Does the Enterprise Program replace TestFlight? No. Enterprise members don't have access to TestFlight. To get a beta tested by people outside the organization, you need the standard program. ## Your project [Review Kit](https://devoria.fr/en/kits/app-review): My App Store review checklist, the Apple rejections I fixed, a Google Play checklist and three Claude Code skills. $55. [iOS & Android Kit](https://devoria.fr/en/kits/ios): Build your iPhone and Android app with Claude Code: the starter code from my apps, the path all the way to the stores, and every kit. $109. [Diagnostic: what's between you and your iPhone app](https://devoria.fr/en/diagnostic): 7 questions, 60 seconds: find out what's really stopping you from publishing your iPhone app, get your 4-step path and the kit that fits you.