Google has announced that they have made some changes on how they run the Play Store that will be good to developers worldwide.
“We are announcing substantial updates that evolve our business model and build on our long history of openness globally. We’re doing that in three ways: more billing options, a program for registered app stores, and lower fees and new programs for developers,” Google said in a blogpost.
First on billing, Google will give developers more freedom in how they handle transactions. As a developer, you can use your own billion system alongside Google’s or direct users outside the app for purchases.
Second is a new program by Google to make sideloading qualified app stores easier. Google’s new Registered App Stores means that it will provide a more streamlined installation flow for app stores that meet a certain quality. When this is rolled out, app stores that choose to participate will have a situation where users find a more simplified installation flow. If they don’t register with Google, nothing changes and will have the same experience as any other sideloaded app on Android.
On pricing, Google has a few changes on service fees. For those developers who choose Google Play’s billing, they will be charged market specific rates separate from the service fee. That rate in the UK, US and European Economic Area is 5%. On service fees, for new installs, Google is reducing the in-app purchase fee to 20%. For those in app purchase developers wanting to participate in the Apps Experience Program, they will have a 20% service fee for transactions from current installs and 15% fee on transactions from new app installs. Google also says their service fee for recurring subscriptions will be at 10%.
Google expect these updates for the Play Store to reach the rest of the world by September 30th 2027, but it will start earlier in the EEA, UK and the US by June 30th this year.
