Google will begin rolling out changes to its Google Play billing system next week, replacing its flat 30 percent fee with lower, tiered rates that allow developers to use alternative billing methods. The changes apply to developers worldwide, even as a court has yet to formally approve the settlement resolving Epic’s antitrust lawsuit against Google over its alleged monopoly on Android’s app store.
The new fee structure, announced in March 2026, partially decouples billing from the app store. Under the updated model, the amount Google takes from transactions depends on several factors: whether a user’s first install occurred before or after the new structure took effect, how much a developer has earned, and whether the developer uses Google Play’s own billing system — which carries an additional 5 percent fee — or an alternative system, including links to their own website.
For apps earning over one million dollars annually, the new rates are 20 percent on new in-app purchases and 10 percent on subscriptions. Google has also introduced two programs — Games Level Up and Apps Experience — offering further reduced rates for apps it designates as “exceptional” or “premium.” To qualify, apps must work across platforms such as tablets, smart TVs, or Android Auto; meet benchmarks for memory usage and crash rates; and support features like cloud saves or phishing-resistant sign-ins. These lower rates apply to both new and existing installs for qualifying apps.
Not all changes arrive at once. Additional program updates will take effect in some regions at the end of September 2026 and by the end of 2026, before expanding globally after September 30, 2027.
The rollout represents a significant structural shift in how Google collects revenue from the Play Store, and may affect how developers price apps and in-app purchases for Android users around the world.
Source: The Verge