Google has announced that eligible third-party Android app stores in the US will be able to access the Google Play app Catalog from July 22, 2026 under its freshly introduced Play Catalogue Access program. According to Google support page reports, participating app stores will be able to showcase apps from the Google Play Catalog, but users will continue to download and install those apps through Google Play under the same terms that apply to direct Play Store downloads. The change represents one of the biggest shake-ups to Android's app ecosystem since the platform launched, as reported by Google. As per The Verge, Google has launched a dedicated page for its Play Catalog Access Program, announcing that third-party US Android app stores will be able to access the Play store's catalog of apps starting on July 22. The company has also notified developers that the app and game listings they submitted to Google will be made available to external Android app stores. Google spokesperson Dan Jackson confirmed that "We've agreed with Epic to withdraw our motion to modify the US Court's injunction rather than prolonging this process which creates uncertainty for the ecosystem."
Google has imposed a $5,000 annual fee (approximately ₹4,81,400) for app stores seeking to join the program, covering security and policy review costs. As reported by Google, the same amount will be charged annually to retain access to the programme. To participate, app store operators must meet eligibility criteria, submit an enrollment form, accept the service agreement, and pay the security and policy review fee. Once approved, app stores can complete the remaining onboarding process through the Play Console before gaining access to the Play Catalog. According to The Verge, third-party app stores will have to pay Google an upfront service fee of $5,000 for security review during onboarding, as well as $5,000 every year to maintain access to the Play catalog of apps. They will also have to meet a lengthy set of requirements, the most important of which is that their store must target users in the US. As part of the broader settlement, Google has already opened the Play Store to third-party billing systems and slashed its standard commission from 30% down to 10% (even to 10%) for developers who steer users to alternative payment methods.
Google has imposed several restrictions on participating marketplaces, including that app stores can distribute Play Catalog apps only within the US and cannot charge additional download fees, monetise app installations, or share Play catalogue data with other marketplaces. According to Google's announcement, participating platforms must continue offering apps beyond those available through the Play Catalogue Access Program. The company's existing Play service fee will continue to apply to apps installed through the programme, with downloads completed through Google Play on the same terms as any other direct download. As per The Verge, third-party stores will have to meet a lengthy set of requirements, the most important of which is that their store must target users in the US. In fact, they legally can't use the Play catalog to distribute apps to users outside of the United States. Additionally, any rival marketplace looking to set up shop inside Google Play must pay an upfront $5,000 security and policy review fee, followed by a $5,000 annual maintenance fee, and must remain open to all eligible developers while maintaining strict safety policies ensuring malware accounts for less than 1% of total installation attempts.
The move is part of Google's broader vision to change Android app distribution in the US, as reported by Google. The change comes as a result of the Epic Games and Google legal battle, where US courts have agreed that Google's Play Store for Android was essentially a monopoly. Google and Epic reached a settlement in November 2025, filing a modified version of the order US District Judge James Donato originally imposed on Google when it lost the case. However, according to The Verge, the companies withdrew their modified settlement and will no longer argue it in court on July 16. Google spokesperson Dan Jackson told The Verge that "This allows us to focus on executing our recently announced global business model evolution to deliver greater app store choice, lower prices, and more opportunities for developers and users." The original October 2024 judgment forced Google to carry rival Android app stores within the Google Play Store for several years and to share its entire app catalog with them, though this applies only to the US market. Google remains committed to maintaining Android's industry-leading security and fostering a competitive ecosystem where every app store and developer has the freedom to compete.
