Watch your wallets! Google has more than doubled the Play Store’s app price limit to $1,000

Google Play Store logo on smartphone stock photo (3)

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

TL; Dr.

  • Developers can now price their products on Google Play up to $999.99.
  • The app’s previous price cap was $400, set in late 2015.
  • The vast majority of applications will never approach the $1,000 price point, but some enterprise software manufacturers or service providers with annual subscriptions can take advantage of this.

Many premium apps and paid apps for Android cost less than a cup of coffee, but there are some software on Google Play that can cost tens or even hundreds of dollars. Enterprise software and services with annual subscriptions can be quite expensive, but there is a limit to how much they can charge if they use Google Play’s billing system. This limit was originally $200 when Google Play came out, but was raised to $400 in late 2015. Now, nearly eight and a half years later, Google has increased the app price limit to $1,000.

During the Google I/O developer conference last week, the Google Play team announced that developers can now price their products up to US$999.99 or the local equivalent. This is a 150% increase from the previous price cap of $400 and reflects the maturation of the Google Play app ecosystem in 2024.

A snippet of the legacy (left) vs. cloud (right) price range table for apps on Google Play. Source: Google.

Very few premium apps will charge anything close to $999.99, even for in-app purchases. However, since the option exists, there will undoubtedly be some apps that will benefit from this change. New apps that exist solely to show others how rich you are will likely update their prices to reflect Google Play’s new app price cap. Some enterprise programs or services that offer annual subscriptions may also benefit from this change, though you’d be hard-pressed to find many examples.

Application $400

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority

Fisherpunk claims to be the “most expensive game” on Google Play, but at $400, it’s no longer the most expensive app to be on the platform.

Since 2015, Google Play has significantly expanded the number of regions where they distribute applications. This is due to the explosive growth Android has seen over the years. There are over three billion monthly active Android devices, a staggering number that includes not only smartphones, but also smartwatches, tablets, televisions and cars. With so many users, it’s no surprise that there are at least a few developers who are interested in charging up to $999.99 for their product, and some users who are willing to pay that much.

To facilitate these types of transactions, Google Play has, over the years, greatly expanded its billing tools and payment options. Notably, the company at I/O introduced a new installment subscription feature that allows developers to offer users the option to pay over time for long-term subscriptions. Developers looking to pay $999.99 for an app or service may instead consider using this option to split payments over time, which Google says has already resulted in an 8% increase in signups total subscriptions and a 4% increase in user spending.

Google Play Installment Subscriptions

Google Play brings in significant revenue for Google, which is a big reason they invest so heavily in the platform. Developers who sell apps or digital goods using Google Play’s billing system are charged a 15% service fee on the first $1 million in revenue they make each year. Once a developer’s total revenue exceeds $1 million per year, Google Play charges a 30% service fee on the remainder for the rest of the year. These terms are very profitable for Google, which means they have a lot to gain from developers paying higher amounts for Google Play content. Again, though, it remains to be seen whether any developers — other than those making new apps — will do so.

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