Google has outlined how it will comply with a U.S. court order requiring more openness in the Android ecosystem by allowing developers to link users to app downloads and alternative payment options outside the Google Play Store. But the company’s implementation includes new fees and commissions that developers must consider before adopting these options.
Developers Will Be Charged for External Link Installs
To comply with the court order in the Epic Games vs. Google antitrust case while retaining revenue, Google has introduced a fee structure for app installs that originate from external links (links that take users outside the Play Store to install an Android app). Under the new policy:
Developers will pay about $2.85 per install for apps.
For games, the fee is approximately $3.65 per install if the install completes within 24 hours of clicking the external link.
These fees apply only when installs are tracked back to an external link.
To use these external links legally, developers must enroll in Google’s “external content links” and “alternative billing” programs by January 28, 2026. Without enrollment, apps could risk removal from the Play Store.
Alternative Billing Comes With Its Own Cuts
Google is also enabling alternative payment methods inside apps distributed on the Play Store in the U.S. Developers now have the option to use payment systems other than Google Play Billing for digital purchases, a requirement of the court injunction that aims to reduce Google’s control over billing.
But this freedom isn’t completely fee-free:
Google will still take a 20 percent commission on in-app purchases processed through alternative billing.
Subscriptions through these alternative methods are subject to a 10 percent fee.
Smaller developers benefit from a 10 percent cap on the first $1 million in revenue.
These fees are lower than Google’s standard Play Billing fees but still substantial enough that many developers question whether the switch is worth the complexity.
Why Google’s Approach Matters
The new rules stem from a U.S. district court injunction in the long-running antitrust battle with Fortnite maker Epic Games, which challenged Google’s monopoly on app distribution and in-app payment processing on Android. That order mandates that Google:
Allow developers to link to downloads outside the Play Store.
Permit alternative payment systems within apps.
Stop requiring Play Billing as the only payment option.
While these changes represent a shift toward greater developer choice in the U.S., many developers and industry observers argue that Google’s fee structure and compliance requirements may blunt the competitive advantages of these options. Some have called Google’s approach “malicious compliance” because it technically meets court requirements while preserving revenue streams for Google.
Epic Games itself has indicated it may continue opposition if the settlement isn’t approved by the judge. A final decision is expected after a January 22, 2026, hearing.