Google will open the Play Store to outside billing on June 30 and will lower its commission from 30 percent to 10 percent on the same day. Developers in the US, UK, and Europe will be permitted to offer alternative payment options starting June 30, part of a settlement agreement with Epic Games announced in March.
The new billing choice program will be accessible to all developers worldwide. While app listings will continue to feature the Play Store’s billing system, developers can provide an alternative payment system or link to their own websites for purchases. Customers will encounter a choice screen during checkout that developers can design within Google’s UX guidelines.
On June 30, Google will cease taking a 30 percent cut from sales in the US, UK, and Europe. The company will separate its service fee from the billing fee, implementing a 10 percent service fee on the developer’s first $1 million in annual earnings, irrespective of the billing system. This 10 percent service fee will apply to all subscription auto-renewals. An additional 5 percent billing fee will be charged for transactions using Google Play’s payment system.
After the developer’s first million in a year, Google’s commission will rise to 20 percent for new installs. Auto-renewals will continue to incur a 10 percent fee, while existing installs will attract a commission of 20 to 25 percent for all other transactions. Apps qualifying for the Games Level Up and Apps Experience programs will retain lower fees when those initiatives launch on September 30.
The Games Level Up program targets developers creating high-quality gaming experiences, while the Apps Experience program focuses on those designing premium multi-device experiences on Android. These changes initially apply to the US, UK, and Europe starting June 30 but will expand globally by September 30, 2027.
