Google has announced major changes to the way developers distribute apps and handle payments on Android, including ending the long-criticized 30 percent commission on Play Store transactions. The move also expands support for third-party app stores and alternative payment systems.
Some of the adjustments were initially proposed as part of the settlement between Google and Epic Games reached in November 2025. Instead of waiting for the courts to finalize that agreement, Google has decided to move ahead with the changes publicly.
Lower fees for developers
One of the biggest shifts concerns how Google collects revenue from app developers. The company will reduce its typical Play Store commission from 30 percent to 20 percent on in-app purchases. In some situations, the cut will drop even further—to 15 percent—for new installs from developers participating in Google’s App Experience program or its updated Google Play Games Level Up initiative.
Subscriptions are also affected. Google’s share of subscription payments will fall to 10 percent.
For developers who use Google’s billing system directly, the company says it will charge a 5 percent fee in the United States, United Kingdom and the European Economic Area, with other regions using locally adjusted rates.
More freedom with payment options
Google is also loosening restrictions around payment methods in Android apps.
Developers will now be able to offer their own payment systems alongside Google’s billing option or even direct users to external websites to complete purchases. This approach appears more flexible than the rules adopted by Apple for its Apple App Store. On iOS, developers typically have to link users out to the web rather than process alternative payments directly inside apps.
These policy changes were partly influenced by disputes involving Epic. The company returned its game Fortnite to Apple’s US App Store in May 2025 after payment policy adjustments, and brought the game back to the Google Play Store in the United States later that year. Following Google’s new announcement, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said Fortnite should soon appear on the Play Store globally.
A new program for third-party app stores
Google is also introducing a “Registered App Stores” program designed to support external app marketplaces on Android. Companies that want to distribute their own stores can apply to the program, where they’ll be evaluated against safety and quality requirements.
Stores that meet those standards will benefit from a simplified installation process built into Android. Participation in the program will not be mandatory, and users will still be able to install alternative app stores manually (a process known as sideloading).
However, Google hinted that future updates to Android later in 2026 could make sideloading more complicated, which may encourage developers to join the official program instead.
Gradual global rollout
Because the changes are extensive, they will appear in stages across different regions. Google says the revised fee structure will roll out according to this schedule:
- By June 30, 2026: European Economic Area, UK, and US
- By September 30, 2026: Australia
- By December 31, 2026: South Korea and Japan
- By September 30, 2027: Worldwide availability
The new App Experience program and updated Google Play Games Level Up program will launch in the EEA, UK, US and Australia on September 30, before expanding to other regions alongside the broader fee changes.
Google also plans to introduce the Registered App Stores program with a future major Android release before the end of the year. According to the company, the feature will reach some regions outside the US first.
Pressure from regulation and lawsuits
This is not the first time Google has adjusted its developer fees. In 2021, the company reduced its commission to 15 percent on the first $1 million in annual developer revenue and also lowered the rate for subscriptions.
What makes the latest changes different is the wider regulatory pressure surrounding the mobile app economy. Legal challenges involving Epic’s disputes with both Google and Apple have pushed the companies to rethink their policies.
Reports have also suggested the two companies are exploring closer cooperation. In January, The Verge reported that Google and Epic had agreed to an $800 million partnership tied to product development and the use of Epic’s technology.
While developers will benefit from keeping a larger share of their revenue, the changes also reflect a strategic shift for Google—one that may bring its own advantages as competition and regulation reshape the app marketplace.
thetechtrident.com 