Google Expands Payment Choices and Alternative App Stores on Android by Sumit Adhikari | Mar 5, 2026. Android is making big changes to how apps and games are distributed and paid for. Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem at Google, announced updates that give developers more flexibility and expand user choices across billions of devices, focusing on three areas: more payment options, easier installation of alternative app stores, and lower fees. Developers can now use their own payment systems alongside Google Play’s billing and can direct users to websites to complete purchases, increasing payment choice while Google aims to maintain transaction security. Android is introducing a Registered App Stores program to simplify and secure installation of alternative app stores; stores that meet quality and security requirements can register and provide a simpler installation experience compared with traditional sideloading. Google is separating billing fees from platform service fees: a 5% billing fee for developers who use Google Play’s payment system in the US, the UK, and the EEA; a 20% service fee for in-app purchases on new installs; a 20% service fee (15% on new installs) for developers who join new incentive programs tied to quality standards; and a 10% fee for subscription payments. New developer programs, including an Apps Experience Program and updates to Google Play Games Level Up, will reward high-quality experiences. The changes will roll out first in the US, UK, and EEA by the end of June, expand to Australia by September and to South Korea and Japan before year-end, with the rest of the world possibly by September 2027. The Registered App Stores program will launch with Android 17 later this year. Google says these updates aim to make Android more open while maintaining a safe and reliable platform.
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