Route D — Google Play external offers and billing choice | Faceless AI - Dataspheres AI

How Google's 2026 model works From June 30, 2026, starting in the US, EEA, and UK, Google separates its take into two parts. A service fee of about 10% on ...

How Google's 2026 model works From June 30, 2026, starting in the US, EEA, and UK, Google separates its take into two parts. A service fee of about 10% on your first $1M per year applies no matter how you collect payment — Play billing, alternative billing, or a link to your own website. A separate billing fee of about 5% applies only if you use Google Play's billing system. Take payment on your own site and you skip that billing fee and pay only the service fee. What you actually do Enroll your app in Google's external offers program (also called external content links) and integrate the external offers APIs. There were enrollment deadlines in early 2026, so check the current requirement. Add your external purchase link and send users to your web checkout, or offer an alternative in-app billing system. Expect roughly a 10% platform cut on the first million in earnings, versus 15% or 30% before. How it compares to Apple Google's path is less of a jackpot than the US Apple 0% window but far more stable — it is Google's own published fee model, not a contested court order. For most developers, Play external links reliably turn a 15% or 30% cut into roughly 10%. Path Platform take (2026) Who processes payment Apple in-app purchase (standard) 30% (15% under the Small Business Program or after year one of a sub) Apple Apple US external link (post-Epic) 0% Apple commission today — but legally contested at the Supreme Court You (Stripe / Paddle) Apple reader / web-signup only 0% — no in-app purchase exists to tax You (on the web) Apple EU external purchase (DMA) A reduced fee stack: an acquisition fee, a store-services fee, and a ~5% Core Technology Commission You Google Play external web link (from Jun 30 2026) ~10% service fee on the first $1M/yr, and no separate billing fee You Educational material, not legal or tax advice. App-store rules and the underlying court cases are changing month to month in 2026 — always confirm the current terms in Apple's and Google's own developer documentation before you ship, and get professional advice for your jurisdiction.