Google Play overhauls fees and opens alternative billing after Epic settlement

Starting 30 June 2026 Google will split the historic 30 % Play Store commission into a 10 % service fee on the first $1 million of annual revenue and a separate 5 % billing fee for transactions that use Google Play Billing. Developers who use alternative payment systems or direct users to their own websites will avoid the extra 5 % charge, giving them the ability to offer multiple checkout options.

The change is part of the settlement with Epic Games that ended a long‑standing antitrust case. Google also introduced the Games Level Up and Apps Experience programs, which can further lower fees for qualifying apps. The rollout begins in the United States, United Kingdom and European Economic Area and will expand to Australia (Sept 30 2026), Japan and South Korea (Dec 31 2026) and the rest of the world by Sept 30 2027.

The new structure aims to give developers more pricing flexibility while maintaining Google’s role in the Android ecosystem. It does not automatically lower prices for consumers, but it reduces the overall cost burden on developers worldwide.