You’re about to get more purchase options inside Android apps. Google is widening its Play Store “billing choice” program starting on June 30, giving you ways to pay beyond the official solution — although fee changes mean you’re not guaranteed to save money.
The expansion lets any creator on the Play Store use their own billing systems when charging for in-app purchases, so long as they’re offering that content to users in the U.K. and the European Economic Area (EEA). They can either build their payment methods into their apps at checkout or point you to their website. The U.S. already has similar programs, but the program will also cover in-app payments in Australia (September 30), Japan, and South Korea (December 31), and eventually the rest of the world (September 30, 2027).
The behind-the-scenes fees you pay are changing as well, including in the States, the U.K., and the EEA. As of June 30, app developers making under $1 million per year will pay Google a 10 percent service fee, plus a billing fee if they use the Play Store. Companies making more than $1 million will pay 20 to 25 percent for one-time purchases, although their subscription costs won’t change.
Those big developers that provide “exceptional user experiences” and qualify for special programs can lower their rates to between 15 and 20 percent, although that won’t start kicking in until September 30.
Will paying outside the Google Play Store save me money?
You might get more app choices instead
Play Store billing choice theoretically lets developers lower their costs and pass the savings on to you, but without forcing you to sideload apps. You might pay less for a game add-on, or renew your streaming video subscription in-app, knowing that it will be just as good a deal as it is on the web.
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You’re not certain to save money this way, though. As with Apple’s approach to the App Store in certain markets, you might pay a comparable amount due to the final costs. Outside billing systems are still expensive to run, and app makers might translate any savings into more profit.
You might see some discounts, though, and some developers could come to the Play Store after avoiding it before. These billing choices emerged in no small part due to Epic Games’ battles with Google and Apple over in-app Fortnite purchases, its temporary exits from their respective app stores, and the ensuing response from regulators. You might see fewer of those disputes, and apps already in the Play Store might make it easier to buy content.
