Understanding user choice billing on Google Play

Last year, we began exploring expanded billing options on Google Play with our user choice billing pilot, which allows eligible developers to offer an additional billing system alongside Google Play’s billing system for their users in select markets. This pilot allows us to gather insights from developers and users on complexities involved in supporting user choice billing in markets across the world.

As our pilot continues to expand and evolve, we’ve begun offering developers several programmes to enable an alternative billing system and put the choice in the hands of the users. Each programme has specific eligibility criteria based on regional requirements. The below provides a guide to determine which programme(s) you may enrol in based on the location where you want to offer user choice billing.

Illustrative example of the user experience for user choice billing

Explore our user choice billing programme(s)

Explore the programmes below, which vary based on regional availability and requirements. You may enrol your app in more than one programme. If a region has multiple programme options, your app can only be enrolled in one programme per region at a time. Your app may switch between programmes if needed, however it must be resubmitted through a new declaration form.

What to expect when onboarding

Onboarding to any of the user choice billing programmes requires you to agree to the Terms of Service for the applicable programme(s), provide verifiable developer and app information, and provide relevant information to complete your onboarding. More detail is provided below.

Step 1: Review the requirements

Review the requirements for each programme on the relevant programme page to determine if your app(s) meets the eligibility criteria

Step 2: Submit the declaration form

Each programme requires the submission of a declaration form to provide relevant information and accept the applicable Terms of Service.

Step 3: Account creation and confirmation

After your declaration form submission is reviewed, our onboarding team will send you an email regarding next steps.

• If you need to create a payment profile you will need to supply relevant business documentation
• If you already have an eligible payment profile or after your profile has been created you’ll be notified of next steps

Step 4: Enrol your app(s)

You will need to identify the apps and countries in which you will offer user choice billing. You can do this via an enrolment form which our onboarding team will share with you.

Step 5: Onboarding completion and programme participation

Once we've confirmed that your app is eligible for the given programme and you've completed all applicable enrolment steps, you will receive an email from Google Play confirming that your onboarding is complete. This email will also contain instructions on how to implement the APIs and abide by programme requirements.

Alternative billing API migration deadline

Alternative billing APIs are required for offering an alternative billing system to users in any eligible market by the migration deadline ('Manual sunset date'). To get started, follow the programme page to learn more about integrating with alternative billing APIs and migration requirements.