An update on Google Play billing in the EEA
By Estelle Werth, Director, EU Government Affairs & Public
Policy, Google
June 19, 2022
Google has been a leader in platform openness for more than a decade, allowing
for multiple app stores and avenues of distribution on Android, and piloting
user choice billing. We intend to continue these important efforts, while also
recognizing that the recent passage of the Digital Markets Act will require
Google Play and other industry players to adjust their current operating model
for users in the European Economic Area (EEA). We are committed to meeting these
new requirements while ensuring that we can continue to keep people safe on our
platforms and invest in Android and Play for the benefit of the entire
ecosystem.
As part of our efforts to comply with these new rules, we are announcing a new
program to support billing alternatives for EEA users. This will mean developers
of non-gaming apps can offer their users in the EEA an alternative to Google
Play's billing system when they are paying for digital content and services.
Developers who choose to use an alternative billing system will need to meet
appropriate user protection requirements, and service fees and conditions will
continue to apply in order to support our investments in Android and Play. When
a consumer uses an alternative billing system, the service fee the developer
pays will be reduced by 3%. Since 99% of developers currently qualify for a
service fee of 15% or less, those developers would pay a service fee of 12% or
lower based on transactions through alternative billing for EEA users acquired
through the Play platform.
As of today, Google will not remove, or reject updates of, non-gaming apps from
participating developers for offering alternative billing systems for EEA users.
Google Play’s billing system will continue to be required for apps and games
distributed via Play to users outside the EEA, and for games distributed to
users within the EEA. We expect to expand billing alternatives to developers of
gaming apps for their users in the EEA, in advance of the DMA's effective date.
Although the DMA does not take effect for some time, w
e
are launching this program now to allow us to work closely with our developer
partners and ensure our compliance plans serve the needs of our shared users and
the broader ecosystem. Developers interested in learning more about the program
and signing up can
visit our Help Center, which we will continue
to update with more details in the coming weeks.
Google Play has enabled millions of developer businesses to connect with
consumers around the world. In the EU alone, the Android ecosystem supported
more than 1.1 million jobs, and Android developers generated €7.9 billion in
annual revenue in 2021.
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We believe that users and developers are best served by a safe and secure
environment for in-app purchases, and by our investments in the Android and Play
ecosystem. As always, we’ll continue to listen to feedback and continue to
invest to help developers thrive on Google Play
