Google is about to open its wallet for Play Store users

If you were a Google Play Store user that paid for apps or made in-app purchases using the billing function over the past few years, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll be getting some money from Google. That’s because an amount of $630 million has been finalized for a settlement (via Android Authority).

Users should have been active on the Google Play Store from August 16, 2016, to September 30, 2023. If this is the case, you’ll want to keep an eye out for some sort of compensation. As far as why this is happening, well, the lawsuit states that “Google monopolized app distribution on certain Android devices and in-app billing services.”

Google denies any wrongdoing

This settlement will apply to anyone living in the US, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. The good news is that if you are eligible, you won’t have to do anything to get your money. For most cases, it states that filling out a form won’t be necessary. Just be on the lookout for “an email from PayPal or a text from Venmo.”

In this day and age, it can almost seem like a scam, so be aware, Google will try and provide you with some money through both of those means. They should arrive at an email or phone number associated with your Google Play Store account. If you’re ever curious, you should see some more news when the money starts going out.

So, how much will you get?

At this point, it’s not all that clear, but since this money is being distributed to millions, and being done automatically, we can guess that it probably won’t be all that much. The document states that you should see at least $2 from the settlement.

If you spent more on the Google Play Store during this period, there’s a pretty good chance that the number will go up. Again, the sum isn’t going to be all that much, but it’s certainly better than nothing. From the $630 million, the lawyers are asking for $85 million in fees and an additional $8.6 million in expenses.

Of course, if you’re not interested in any of this, you can always refuse or decline whatever’s coming. You’ll need to get the exclusion form from the website, and be sure to fil it out and turn it in. You’ll need to do this before February 19, 2026. This isn’t Google’s first rodeo, and it certainly won’t be its last.