What cut does Google Play take?

Google Play primarily takes a 30% share of app revenue, though this percentage decreases for long-term subscriptions. There is also a one-time fee to register a developer account.

Google Play's Revenue Share Explained

For developers publishing applications on the Google Play Store, Google implements a tiered revenue sharing model depending on the type of purchase and the duration of subscriptions.

• Standard App Revenue: For most paid applications and one-time in-app purchases (such as virtual goods or unlockable features), Google retains a 30% share of the revenue. This means developers receive 70% of the earnings from these transactions.

• Subscription Revenue: The revenue split for recurring subscriptions is designed to incentivize user retention, offering a better deal for long-term subscribers:

  • First Year: For the initial 12 months of a customer's subscription, Google's share remains at the standard 30%.
  • After One Year: Once a subscriber has maintained their subscription for more than one year, Google's cut significantly reduces to 15%. This allows developers to receive 85% of the revenue from their loyal, long-term subscribers.

Developer Account Registration Fee

Beyond the revenue share on app sales and subscriptions, developers are also required to pay a one-time fee to set up their developer account on Google Play.

• One-Time Registration Fee: There is a one-time $25 registration fee to create a Google Play developer account. This fee is non-recurring and grants developers the ability to publish and manage multiple applications on the platform.

Summary of Google Play Cuts

To provide a clear overview, here's a summary of the various cuts Google Play takes: