Google is paying out $700M to Android app buyers
Google is paying out $700M to Android app buyers
https://www.techlicious.com/blog/google-700-million-settlement-android-app-buyers/
Publish Date: 2026-05-01 23:22:00
Source Domain: www.techlicious.com
A federal court gave final approval yesterday for a $700 million settlement against Google, the outcome of a 2021 lawsuit brought by a coalition of 53 state attorneys general accusing the company of illegally monopolizing Android app distribution and in-app payments. Google used its market position to charge consumers as much as 30% in fees for purchasing apps and making in-app purchases – fees that AGs argued were passed along to buyers in the form of inflated prices.
Google paid $630 million into a consumer reimbursement fund and an additional $70 million to the states. Google did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Do you qualify?
You’re eligible for a piece of the settlement fund if you made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 and were harmed by Google’s anticompetitive conduct. That covers seven years of app purchases, in-app buys, and subscriptions processed through Google Play’s billing system. Given the Play Store’s scale, that likely means tens of millions of U.S. Android users qualify.
How much will you get?
Individual payouts are proportional to what you spent during the class period, but everyone will receive at least $2.00. Heavier Google Play spenders will receive more. The $630 million consumer fund is substantial, but attorney fees and administration costs come out first, as they do in any class action.
You probably don’t need to do anything
Most affected consumers do not need to take further action to receive a payment. The settlement fund will make the majority of payments automatically, and no claim form is necessary in most cases.
Consumers will receive an email from PayPal or a text from Venmo notifying them of their incoming payment at the email address or mobile phone number associated with their Google Play account. If that address or number is also linked to a PayPal or Venmo account, the payment will be deposited directly. If it isn’t, you’ll have the option to redirect…
