To upload an app to the Google Play Store, you need to pay a one-time registration fee of $25. Once you’ve paid this fee, you can publish as many apps as you want under the same developer account. After that, there are no recurring fees, but Google takes a percentage (usually 15% to 30%) of any revenue generated by your app, like from in-app purchases or app sales.
If your app is free but offers extra features, content, or virtual goods that users can buy (like game items, subscriptions, or premium features), those are in-app purchases.
App sales, on the other hand, refer to the actual purchase of your app itself. If you charge users to download your app, that’s considered an app sale.
Google typically takes a commission from both types of transactions: around 15% for subscriptions (after the first year) and 30% for one-time app purchases or in-app purchases.
For one-time app purchases or in-app purchases (like buying a game or purchasing something in a free app):
Google takes 30% of the price. For example, if someone buys an in-app item for $10, Google keeps $3, and you get $7.
For subscriptions (like if users pay a monthly fee to access premium content in your app):
Google takes 30% for the first year, but after that, they only take 15%. So, if someone subscribes for $10 a month:
- For the first year, Google takes $3, and you get $7.
- After the first year, Google takes $1.50, and you get $8.50.
