Google ends is 30 percent app store fee and welcomes third-party app stores
Source: Engadget
Fee structure changes
Google is officially doing away with its 30 percent cut of Play Store transactions. The company is lowering its fee to 20 percent for in‑app purchases, and in some cases to 15 percent for new installs of apps from developers participating in its App Experience Program or Google Play Games Level Up program. In addition, Google will charge a 5 percent service fee for developers in the UK, US, or European Economic Area who use its billing system, with a “market‑specific rate” applied in other regions.
Alternative billing options
Developers will now be able to offer alternative billing systems alongside Google’s own, or “guide users outside of their app to their own websites for purchases.” This approach is more permissive than Apple’s policy settled in 2025, which only allows iOS developers to direct customers to external payment methods via in‑app links.
Comparison with Apple’s policy
Apple’s 2025 settlement permits developers to link to external payment options, but does not allow the same level of flexibility for in‑app transactions. The stricter Apple guidelines were a factor in Epic’s effort to bring Fortnite back to the App Store in the US.
Impact on Fortnite
Epic Games added Fortnite back to the Play Store in the US in December 2025, and CEO Tim Sweeney announced that the game will soon be available globally in Google’s app store. This move follows Epic’s earlier return of Fortnite to the iOS App Store in May 2025 after the Apple settlement.
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