Google Play now tests "User Choice Billing"

Google announced more than a month ago that it would allow developers to use an alternative payment system instead the Google Pay. Now, the company lets non-gaming developers around the world sign up for the User Choice Billing testing. It is now just available in select areas. Here are the details about Google’s User Choice Billing.

Google announced it would allow Android app developers to use their own payment system alongside the Google’s own payment system. Google Play is now letting non-gaming developers sign up for a third-party User Choice Billing system. The new system is being tested in some pilot markets, European Economic Area (EEA) countries, Australia, India, Indonesia, and Japan.

Developers will be able to pay 4% less than the Google applicable service fees. Non-gaming developers that have a registered business can now sign up for alternative billing methods with the app. However, Google lists some requirements for developers who want to sign up.

Comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) (if handling credit and debit card data).
Provide customer support for users of the alternative billing system (including any products sold using the alternative billing system), and the alternative billing system must provide a process to dispute unauthorized transactions.
Notify us in advance of intended changes to your app enrollment preferences, such as disabling or enabling user choice billing in a particular app or country.

Google is planning to launch the new User Choice Billing over the coming months. A Google spokesperson said, “Android has always been a uniquely open operating system, and we continue to evolve our platform and increase the choices available to developers and users while maintaining our ability to invest in the ecosystem. With this next phase of Google Play’s user choice billing pilot, all non-gaming developers can offer an additional billing choice alongside Play’s billing system for their users in Australia, Japan, India, Indonesia, and the European Economic Area. We will be sharing more in the coming months as we continue to build and iterate with our pilot partners.”