Third-party app shops are coming to Android telephones within the US quickly. Google has launched a devoted web page for its Play Catalog Access Program, asserting that third-party US Android app shops will be capable to entry the Play retailer’s catalog of apps beginning on July 22. It has additionally notified builders that the app and sport listings they submitted to Google will likely be made out there to exterior Android app shops, which can be capable to supply their merchandise to customers.
App downloads by way of the third-party shops will nonetheless be accomplished by way of Google Play. The corporate’s service charges can even apply to apps downloaded by way of the exterior shops. Google stated in its bulletins that it is implementing the change to adjust to a court docket order, which got here from its prolonged authorized battle in opposition to Epic Video games.
Google and Epic reached a settlement in November 2025, submitting a modified model of the order US District Choose James Donato initially imposed on Google when it misplaced the case. In March, they revealed that their modified settlement concerned the launch of a “Registered App Stores” program. Third-party shops that register with this system “can have a extra simplified set up circulation” as sideloaded apps. In different phrases, they’re going to be simpler to put in than unregistered shops, however they’re going to nonetheless need to be sideloaded. Google is eliminating that plan.
In accordance with The Verge, the businesses withdrew their modified settlement and can now not argue it in court docket on July 16. With the Play Catalog Entry Program, third-party app shops will likely be downloadable from inside Google Play itself.
“We have agreed with Epic to withdraw our movement to switch the US Courtroom’s injunction somewhat than prolonging this course of which creates uncertainty for the ecosystem,” Google spokesperson Dan Jackson instructed The Verge. “This permits us to give attention to executing our not too long ago introduced international enterprise mannequin evolution to ship higher app retailer alternative, decrease costs, and extra alternatives for builders and customers. We stay dedicated to sustaining Android’s industry-leading safety and fostering a aggressive ecosystem the place each app retailer and developer has the liberty to compete. In parallel, we proceed to adjust to the US Courtroom’s injunction.”
Third-party app shops should pay google an upfront service charge of $5,000 for safety overview throughout onboarding, in addition to $5,000 yearly to keep up entry to the Play catalog of apps. They can even have to satisfy a prolonged set of necessities, a very powerful of which is that their retailer should goal customers within the US. Actually, they legally cannot use the Play catalog to distribute apps to customers exterior of the US.
Along with opening up Android to third-party shops, Google additionally opened the Play store to exterior billing and lowered its fee for app purchases from 30 % to 10 %, as a part of its settlement with Epic Video games. Builders can now supply different funds or hyperlink customers to their very own web sites for buy inside their app or sport listings.
