Google to Open UK Play Store to Third-Party App Stores, Payments by March 2026
Google will enable third-party app stores and alternative payment systems on Google Play in the UK by March 2026 under the country’s digital markets regime. The overhaul could cut Play Store commission revenue on UK app sales and reshape monetization dynamics for more than 170,000 local developers.
1. UK Digital Markets Regime Requirements
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has designated Google as a ‘strategic market status’ firm, mandating major app store reforms under its new digital markets regime. Regulators require Google to remove restrictions that bar alternative app distribution and payment options, aiming to boost competition and innovation for consumers and developers alike.
2. Planned App Store Changes
By March 2026, Google will allow third-party app stores to operate on Android devices in the UK and permit developers to use external payment processors without in-app fees. These changes will include a standardized process for users to discover and install apps outside the official Play Store interface.
3. Financial Implications for Google
Analysts forecast Google Play’s UK commission revenue could decline by up to 20%, given the shift toward lower-fee payment processors and third-party storefronts. This revenue headwind may temper overall growth for Alphabet’s services division, which surpassed $60 billion in quarterly sales last year.
4. Industry and Global Context
The UK reforms mirror similar initiatives in the EU’s Digital Markets Act and could serve as a blueprint for future regulatory efforts in North America and Asia. Other major platform operators are monitoring the UK rollout closely, anticipating comparable demands in their home jurisdictions.