Google Wants to Charge 2 to 4 Dollars Per Installation Outside Play Store

Hello HaWkers, concerning news for Android developers: Google is planning to implement a fee of 2 to 4 dollars for each app installation made outside the Google Play Store. This means that sideloading, the common practice of installing APKs directly, could become significantly more expensive for app creators.

Have you thought about the impact of this on alternative stores like the Epic Games Store or for independent developers who distribute apps directly? Let's understand the details of this change.

What Is Being Proposed

Google's proposal emerged as part of a judicial settlement in the United States, where the company was found to be a monopolist in the Android app distribution market.

Details of the Proposed Fee

Planned charging structure:

Fee per installation: $2 to $4 USD
Applicable to: Any app installed outside the Play Store
Mechanism: Automatic verification via Google Play Protect
Exemptions: None confirmed so far
Expected start: 2025 (pending judicial approval)

⚠️ Important: This proposal is still under judicial discussion and may be modified before final implementation.

Why Google Wants This Fee

Google's official justification involves security costs and maintaining the Android ecosystem.

Arguments Presented

Google claims that:

Play Protect verifies all apps, including sideloaded ones
Security costs are distributed only to Play Store apps
External developers "free ride" on security infrastructure
Fee would compensate costs of keeping Android secure

Numbers presented:

Play Protect: 100+ billion apps verified/year
Malware blocked: 2+ million malicious apps/year
Security investment: $500+ million/year
Cost per verification: ~$0.50

Criticisms of the Justification

Counter-arguments:

Android is open source, costs are already covered
Fee is punitive, not just compensatory
Disproportionate impact on small developers
Harms competition and innovation

Impact for Developers

If implemented, the fee will have significant consequences for different types of developers:

By Developer Type

1. Indie Developers:

Impact: HIGH
Significant additional cost per installation
Reduced viability of alternative distribution
Option: Migrate 100% to Play Store

2. Gaming Companies (Epic, etc.):

Impact: MEDIUM-HIGH
Pass cost to consumer or absorb
Lobbying against the measure continues
Business model directly affected

3. Corporate Apps:

Impact: MEDIUM
Internal distribution via MDM may be exempt
Costs passed to B2B customers
Limited deployment alternatives

4. Open Source/F-Droid:

Impact: VERY HIGH
Free model incompatible with fee
Existential threat to alternative stores
Community mobilized against

Comparison with Apple

The situation is ironic considering Google's historical criticism of Apple:

Apple vs Google - Distribution Fees

Aspect	Apple	Google (proposed)
Play/App Store Fee	15-30%	15-30%
Sideload Fee	N/A (blocked)	$2-4/installation
Alternative Stores	Recently allowed (EU)	Always allowed
Market Position	Closed	Historically open

💭 Reflection: For years, Google criticized Apple for not allowing sideloading. Now, they want to charge for it.

Market Reactions

The proposal generated intense reactions from various stakeholders:

Epic Games

Official position:

Called the proposal "absurd and punitive"
Will continue fighting legally
Threatens to remove Fortnite from Android again
Alliance with other developers against Google

F-Droid Community

Concerns raised:

Open source model incompatible with fees
Thousands of free apps threatened
Privacy users most affected
Mobilization for alternatives

Independent Developers

General sentiment:

Frustration with yet another fee
Already high development costs
Additional barrier to innovation
Considering migrating to iOS only

Alternatives and Workarounds

If the fee is implemented, developers will have some options:

Possible Strategies

1. Absorb the cost:

Viable for high-margin apps
Premium games or subscription apps
Cost passed on indirectly

2. Raise prices:

Add $2-4 to app price
Transparency with users
Risk of losing competitiveness

3. Migrate to Play Store:

Avoids sideload fee
Subject to 15-30% commission
Loses distribution independence

4. Focus on other platforms:

iOS, web apps, desktop
Reduce investment in Android
Risk diversification

Impact for Users

Consumers will also be affected by this change:

Consequences for End Users

Negative impacts:

Fewer options for downloading apps
Potentially higher prices
Fewer free apps available
Reduced innovation in the ecosystem

Possible "benefits" (according to Google):

Greater security in verified apps
Less malware in circulation
More controlled ecosystem

Legal Context

The proposal emerged from a significant antitrust case:

Case Timeline

Main events:

2020: Epic sues Google for monopolistic practices
2023: Jury decides Google is a monopolist
2024: Remedy discussions begin
2025: Fee proposal presented to judge
2025: Final decision expected

Judge's Position

Judge James Donato expressed:

Skepticism about Google's proposal
Concern about impact on competition
May reject or significantly modify
Decision expected for first half 2025

What to Expect

The situation is still developing:

Possible Scenarios

Scenario 1: Fee fully approved

Massive impact on sideloading
Alternative stores may close
Android becomes more closed

Scenario 2: Fee reduced or modified

Lower values ($0.50-1)
Exemptions for open source
Moderate impact

Scenario 3: Fee rejected

Victory for developers
Current model maintained
Google seeks other monetization forms

Conclusion

Google's proposal to charge for installations outside the Play Store represents a fundamental change in Android's philosophy. For years, the system's openness was a competitive differentiator against iOS. Now, that openness may have a literal price.

For Android developers, the moment is to closely follow judicial decisions and prepare alternative strategies. Whatever the outcome, the Android app market is about to change significantly.

If you want to understand more about the mobile development ecosystem and its trends, I recommend checking out: React vs Vue vs Svelte in 2025 where we discuss options for modern frontend development.