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After lowering its Play Store commission from 30 percent to 15 percent in March, Google today announced that it is making the same change to subscription fees, an update applicable to all app developers, reports The Verge.

play-store-google.jpeg

At the current time, Google's subscription policy works like Apple's. Google collects 30 percent from a subscription during the first year, and then drops that to 15 percent for each subsequent year if customers keep a continuous subscription going.

Google recognizes that many businesses are unable to benefit from the fee cut because of the continuous rule that it has, so Google is dropping all subscription fees to 15 percent "from day one," effectively removing prior year-long subscription requirement. The fee cut was also previously limited to the first $1 million in revenue.

Apple also offers reduced 15 percent subscription fees from day one, but that's limited to developers who are part of its App Store Small Business Program, which is available to those who earn up to but don’t exceed to $1 million in a calendar year. For other developers that are not part of that program, Apple takes a 30 percent cut until a subscriber has been subscribed to a service for 12 months.

All apps in the Google Play Store will pay 15 percent instead of 30 percent for all subscriptions, but Google also plans to lower the fee even further for some ebooks and on-demand streaming music service apps. Fees could be as low as 10 percent for apps that fall into these categories.

Google is making the change to subscription fees as it faces increased regulatory pressure much like Apple. It too is in the same legal battle over in-app purchases as Apple with Epic Games, and it is under the same scrutiny in the United States and other countries.

Article Link: Google Lowers Play Store Subscription Fee From 30% to 15%
 

jakotako

macrumors newbie
Sep 1, 2021
3
32
Regardless of how one looks at it, it is pretty comical that Epic's lawsuit helps to push these changes, however, Epic's Fortnite will not return to any of the stores profiting from this until the litigation is resolved.
 

mi7chy

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2014
10,593
11,281
Regardless of how one looks at it, it is pretty comical that Epic's lawsuit helps to push these changes, however, Epic's Fortnite will not return to any of the stores profiting from this until the litigation is resolved.

Have sideloaded Fortnite on Android because I refuse to let big companies feuding over profit to affect how I use my devices. Now to push for legislation for Apple to open up sideloading because burden shouldn't be put on end users to disrupt their game play and force them to buy other devices to continue to play.
 

jakotako

macrumors newbie
Sep 1, 2021
3
32
Have sideloaded Fortnite on Android because I refuse to let big companies feuding over profit to affect how I use my devices. Now to push for legislation for Apple to open up sideloading because burden shouldn't be put on end users to disrupt their game play and force them to buy other devices to continue to play.
Totally agree, I would also prefer the ability to side load apps that I want instead of using an app store. However, I would say a lot of smartphone users are not involved enough with technology or care enough to explore such options, which plays into the hands of the app store and play store.
 

mi7chy

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2014
10,593
11,281
Wait, so it wasn’t only Apple that had the outrageous 30% fee?? Did the courts know this?? How come Apple didn’t point this out?? /s

Android sideloading like MacOS, Windows, Linux, etc. circumvents the Google Play Store and fees. Apple Play Store is a forced tax. Imagine if state/federal forces you to buy electronics at msrp with tax from brick and mortar and you couldn't buy for less than msrp without tax from private party.
 
Last edited:

Clory

macrumors newbie
Oct 21, 2021
1
2
Have sideloaded Fortnite on Android because I refuse to let big companies feuding over profit to affect how I use my devices. Now to push for legislation for Apple to open up sideloading because burden shouldn't be put on end users to disrupt their game play and force them to buy other devices to continue to play.
lol, love the irony and cluelessness. Epic is 40% owned by Tencent a $630 Billion mega-cap behemoth. you might as well Venmo Xi Jingping and cut out 1 more middleman.
 

alien3dx

macrumors 68020
Feb 12, 2017
2,193
524
Google needs to do better than that to force Apple's hand !

I recommend 7.5% across the board for ALL transactions !

That will shake things up, BIG time !
winner still the developer . epic done it. But it reality to get profit both android and ios is hard. unless big boys
 
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a104375

macrumors 6502
Oct 8, 2007
463
147
Matamoras, PA
Android sideloading like MacOS, Windows, Linux, etc. circumvents the Google Play Store and fees. Apple Play Store is a forced tax. Imagine if state/federal forces you to buy electronics at msrp with tax from brick and mortar and you couldn't buy for less than msrp from private party without tax.

I get your point, but you're supposed to pay sales tax on private party sales too, we just don't. Thus why eBay was forced to start collecting and remitting sales tax on the sellers behalf.
 

vinay427

macrumors 6502a
Sep 18, 2008
748
74
Users spend more on iOS than Android, so this isn’t big news. 15% of nothing is still nothing.

Software distribution, development tools, and payment processing systems are not free services.

Yes, this seems to be a common argument for why Apple should match these fee reductions, and I tend to agree. 15% of Android's payments is less than it would be on iOS, and both platforms have distribution, development, and payment processing, so Apple can clearly afford it collecting more revenue than Google.
 

mi7chy

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2014
10,593
11,281
I get your point, but you're supposed to pay sales tax on private party sales too, we just don't. Thus why eBay was forced to start collecting and remitting sales tax on the sellers behalf.

Tax is on capital gains while you can deduct for capital loss. You might want to refer to a tax accountant for info.
 

840quadra

Moderator
Staff member
Feb 1, 2005
9,427
6,308
Twin Cities Minnesota
Good for devs, and hopefully will spawn some more high quality / creative applications on the Android side. Still waiting for a good video editing tool that matches what is on iOS.

As an aside, I am also hopeful that this doesn't spawn more paid apps that I own to switch to subscription model for their future updates. I don't expect free updates with new features, however when an update is quietly pushed that takes away features I paid for already, I usually drop the application.
 

StuBeck

macrumors 6502a
May 6, 2008
924
1,553
Users spend more on iOS than Android, so this isn’t big news. 15% of nothing is still nothing.

Software distribution, development tools, and payment processing systems are not free services.
Google Play revenues was about $40 billion in 2020.
 

nutmac

macrumors 603
Mar 30, 2004
6,169
7,729
Your turn, Apple.
I realize Services revenue is a rising star at Apple, but it isn't worth all the international regulatory scrutiny and bad press.

I would like to see:
  • Subscriptions, paid app purchases, and in app purchases reduced to 15%.
  • Streaming services (both music and video) reduced to 7.5%.
 
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