Google has announced the Play Catalog Access Program, allowing eligible third-party Android app stores in the United States to access the Google Play Store’s app catalog.
Under the program, participating app stores can offer apps from the Google Play catalog to their users, while app downloads will continue to be completed through Google Play under the same terms as downloads initiated directly from the Play Store. Google’s existing Play service fees will continue to apply.
The program builds on Google’s broader changes to Android’s app ecosystem introduced earlier this year, including updated billing options, revised developer fees, and the Registered App Stores program.
Play Catalog Access Program requirements
To participate, third-party Android app stores must enroll in the program and meet Google’s eligibility, security, and policy requirements. Eligible app stores must:
- Be available in the US and registered as an organization.
- Operate as a legitimate marketplace open to all eligible third-party developers with clear, non-discriminatory policies.
- Obtain authorization from developers to distribute their apps, respect intellectual property rights, and maintain a process for handling IP disputes.
- Display essential app information, including the developer name, app description, version, app size, permissions, applicable legal disclosures, and contact information.
- Support user-controlled app installations and updates, ensure app installations and ownership changes occur only with explicit user consent, and provide customer support.
- Publish and enforce privacy and trust and safety policies, offer parental controls, and clearly identify Play Catalog apps as originating from Google Play before initiating the Inline Install API.
Participating app stores must also:
- Offer apps and games beyond those available only through the Play Catalog.
- Refresh their Play Catalog data daily or at least once a week.
- Not distribute Play Catalog apps outside the US.
- Not charge additional fees for downloading, installing, or using Play Catalog apps, or monetize Play Catalog app installations.
- Not use Play Catalog data in misleading ways, share it with other app stores, or use it for purposes other than operating their own marketplace.
- Comply with applicable laws and regulations, including age assurance and minor protection requirements.
- Keep malware distribution below 1% of install attempts over a rolling 30-day period across all devices globally.
Google will charge an upfront $5,000 annual service fee to cover the security and policy reviews required during onboarding and annually thereafter to maintain access to the Play Catalog.
Google and Epic Games withdraw proposed injunction changes
The announcement comes after Google and Epic Games jointly withdrew their request to modify the US court’s injunction in the long-running antitrust case. With the motion withdrawn, Google will proceed with implementing the court-ordered changes instead of its proposed alternative approach. Google said the decision allows it to focus on its broader business model changes while continuing to comply with the court’s injunction.
Availability
The Play Catalog Access Program will go live on July 22, 2026, and Google has opened enrollment for eligible third-party Android app stores in the US.
Google said the program will also include:
- Daily Play Catalog snapshots for approved app stores through Google Cloud Storage, with optional intra-day updates planned for the future.
- An Inline Install API to simplify app installations from participating app stores.
- A requirement for updated versions of participating app stores to be submitted for review before being distributed to users.
- Automatic availability of US developers’ apps and game listings to eligible third-party app stores through the Play Catalog from July 22, unless developers choose to opt out.
- Continued rollout of the Registered App Stores program outside the US with a future Android release, while the Play Catalog Access Program serves as the US-specific approach following the court’s injunction.