Apple and Google do not charge one fixed commission worldwide. A developer’s rate can depend on the country, payment route, type of transaction, eligibility for a program and, in some Google Play markets, whether the customer is a new or existing app install. For buyers, the billing route matters for a different reason: it can determine where a purchase is recorded, how a subscription is managed and who handles a refund request.
This comparison reflects platform guidance available on October 7, 2026. The specific fee examples below cover Google Play’s published schedules for named markets and Apple’s EU terms; they are not a global rate card. A platform fee paid by a developer also does not determine a customer’s refund eligibility.
How do Apple App Store and Google Play fees compare?
There is no directly comparable worldwide percentage for the two stores. Google Play publishes fee schedules that vary by market, transaction and program. Apple’s developer agreement sets terms for particular distribution and payment routes; one specifically documented EU charge is a 5% Core Technology Commission on specified digital-goods sales associated with EU alternative marketplaces, web distribution or apps distributed through those routes. That charge is not a universal App Store commission.
The table summarizes the fee examples established by the platforms’ guidance. It does not cover every country, developer arrangement or transaction type. Google’s published rates may include a separate billing fee, so they should not be compared with a rate that excludes one as if both figures measured the same charge.
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| Platform and scope | Published fee example | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play: users in Australia, the EEA, Japan, the UK and the US, under the updated schedule | For auto-renewing subscriptions and the first $1 million in annual earnings, the overview lists 10% plus a 5% billing fee, subject to the table’s distinctions. For other transactions, it lists 20% plus a 5% billing fee for new installs and 25% plus a 5% billing fee for existing installs. | The applicable new-install cohort dates are June 30, 2026 for the EEA, UK and US, and September 30, 2026 for Australia and Japan. Participation in Play Games Level Up or Apps Experience changes some rates; the applicable table and eligibility terms control. |
| Google Play: applicable external-web-link transactions in the markets covered by its updated guidance | 20%, or 15% for participants in the Play Games Level Up or Apps Experience programs. | These rates apply to eligible transactions under Google’s terms, not every external payment or every market. |
| Google Play: remaining markets while the updated schedule has not rolled out globally | 15% on the first $1 million in annual revenue for developers enrolled in the 15% tier, 30% above that threshold, and 15% for automatically renewing subscriptions. | This is the schedule Google lists for remaining markets during the rollout, not a permanent worldwide rate. |
| Apple: specified EU alternative-distribution routes | 5% Core Technology Commission on specified digital-goods sales associated with EU alternative marketplaces, web distribution or apps distributed through those routes. | This is a route-specific term in Apple’s developer agreement, not a standard commission for every App Store sale. Apple’s updated EU terms took effect October 1, 2026; the agreement governs the applicable rate and scope. |
Google Play’s service-fee guidance also says that 97% of developers distribute apps and use Google Play at no charge and that 99% of developers subject to a service fee are eligible for a fee of 15% or less. Google does not state a measurement year for either figure on that page, so they should be read as undated Google claims, not as independently verified current-year statistics.
What changes the fee a developer pays?
- Country or storefront: A rate published for one market does not establish the rate in another. The Google examples above cover named markets and a separate group of remaining markets.
- Payment and distribution route: In-app store billing, alternative in-app billing, an external web link and alternative app distribution can have different terms.
- Transaction type: A subscription, a one-time digital purchase and a paid app may not be treated alike.
- Program eligibility: Google identifies developer programs that change some rates. Apple’s terms likewise depend on the selected business terms and route.
- Install cohort: In the named Google rollout markets, the applicable rate for other transactions distinguishes new from existing installs using the stated regional rollout dates.
- Separate charges: Some Google examples add a 5% billing fee to the service-fee percentage. Check whether a quoted rate includes that separate fee before comparing it with another figure.
Apple announced on August 18, 2026 that updated EU terms would take effect October 1, 2026. The announcement described adjusted commission rates, alternative payment options alongside Apple In-App Purchase and additional child-safety requirements. For a specific transaction, Apple’s current developer agreement—not the announcement summary—sets the applicable terms.
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When can a user pay outside the store’s billing system?
Apple’s EU payment options
Apple’s EU developer guidance allows developers, subject to its requirements, to use Apple In-App Purchase, alternative payment processing within an app and/or offers outside the app. Apple In-App Purchase includes payment processing, currency exchange, tax support and customer service. A developer using an alternative takes on responsibilities that can include payment, billing, tax, privacy, refunds and regulatory compliance. Offering an alternative payment route does not by itself establish that the developer owes no platform fee.
Google Play’s US alternative-billing program
Google’s US program lets eligible mobile or tablet apps offer an alternative billing system instead of or alongside Google Play Billing. Its requirements include customer support, a way for customers to initiate refund requests and manage subscriptions, compliance with relevant payment and child-protection rules, and transaction reporting. The program has applicable service fees: alternative billing is not automatically fee-free. Google’s guidance refers to a July 22, 2026 update and says reporting and fee payment began October 1, 2026.
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These are conditional options, not a general right to use any payment method in any app or country. Availability and obligations depend on the platform’s current terms and the developer’s eligibility.
What does the payment route mean for purchase records and support?
With Apple In-App Purchase, Apple’s purchase history and subscription-management features reflect purchases made through that system. Apple says purchases made through external payment routes may not appear there. Apple also says features such as Report a Problem, Family Sharing and Ask to Buy do not apply in the same way to external purchases, and directs customers to the developer for help with purchases made outside Apple’s billing system. Those statements describe Apple’s own support and account systems; they are not an independent assessment of the security of either payment route.
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In practical terms, identify who processed the payment before looking for a receipt, changing a subscription or requesting support. A store may not have the transaction record or ability to resolve a purchase handled by a developer or another payment provider.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do refunds work?
Google Play billing
Google says it may refund some purchases made through Google Play’s billing system. Eligibility depends on the product, when and how it was paid for, and the user’s location. Many apps are made by third-party developers; Google says those developers may help with purchase problems and may issue refunds under their own policies and applicable law. If a purchase was not billed by Google Play, contact the party that processed it or the developer.
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Apple App Store billing
Apple says some App Store purchases may be eligible for a refund request through reportaproblem.apple.com. Eligibility varies by country or region, and submitting a request does not guarantee approval.
In either store, the platform’s refund guidance is not a complete statement of every consumer right. Applicable consumer law may also matter, and the platform help pages do not establish a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction comparison of legal rights.
What family-purchase control is documented?
Apple’s Ask to Buy lets a family organizer or parent or guardian approve or decline eligible child app downloads and purchases. Apple says its default behavior and availability depend on the child’s age and location. This is a specific named control; the available guidance here does not establish a complete, like-for-like comparison with Google Play family controls or support a claim that one store offers better family protection overall.
Quick Recap
What should you check before paying?
- Check the payment route. Look at the checkout flow or receipt to determine whether the charge was processed by Apple, Google Play, the developer or another provider.
- Check the purchase record. Use the billing provider’s account or support channel; an external purchase may not appear in the store’s purchase history or subscription tools.
- Check subscription management before confirming. If you pay outside the store, use the developer’s or payment provider’s instructions to manage or cancel the subscription.
- Use the matching refund route. For Apple-billed purchases, use Apple’s refund-request process. For Google Play-billed purchases, consult Google Play’s refund guidance. For an external payment, contact the developer or payment provider.
- For a developer comparing costs, check the current local terms. Confirm the storefront country, transaction type, billing route, eligibility, install cohort where relevant and whether a quoted percentage includes separate billing fees.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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