Google Play Overhauls Fee Structure, Adds Decoupled Billing Options

Google Play announced a global redesign of its developer fee model, ending the long‑standing uniform 30% commission. Under the new "decoupled fees" system, platform service charges and payment‑processing fees are calculated separately. Developers can now choose third‑party payment processors and avoid the additional 5% fee that applies when using Google Play Billing.

For apps earning more than $1 million a year, the platform fee for in‑app purchases drops to 20% and subscriptions to 10%. If developers continue to use Google Play Billing, an extra 5% processing fee applies, making the total up to 25% for in‑app purchases. The new rates also vary based on whether the user installed the app before or after the policy change and on the developer’s participation in Google’s quality programs, which can further lower fees for qualified apps.

The rollout begins in select markets by the end of September, with full global deployment expected by late 2027. The change follows a jury finding that Google’s app‑distribution and payment practices were monopolistic in the Epic Games antitrust case, prompting Google to adjust its policies ahead of any formal settlement.