While the app selection on the Google Play Store was massive, a lot of the options were junk, leaving users to wade through spam or scam apps, detracting from the overall experience. But over the past year, Google has done a lot of work to make the Play Store a better place, ensuring that users can feel safe downloading apps, while also guiding folks to curated apps that match their interests.
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The Google Play Store has cut its app count by nearly half, but it’s for the better
Quality over quantity
Of course, some developers are doing big numbers on the Google Play Store, selling apps and services to a variety of different customers. And while Google did have a relatively modest limit on how much developers could charge, set to $999.99, that bar is now being raised effective immediately, with a new price limit that will be set at $4,999.99 going forward (via Android Authority).
Google has criteria in place to keep things sane
The first thing that probably jumps in your mind is how many ridiculous apps will be on the Play Store now attempting to charge $5,000. Well, the good news is that probably isn’t going to happen, since Google has some requirements in place that will prevent users from seeing such things.
In order for a developer to slap a $5,000 price tag on their app, they will need an active account on the Google Play Store in good standing. That same developer will need to be “in compliance with all Google Play Developer Program policies and the terms.” And finally, the most crucial part, that developer will need to “have exceeded $1 million USD within the last 12-month period” when it comes to earnings.
Hopefully, with these rules in place, it will prevent bad actors from trying to take advantage. Google also shares that the team will review each request before it makes any changes. If you’re a developer that feels the need to increase some app prices to this level, and meet the criteria above, you can always submit a request form to make it happen.
As far as in other parts of the world, this same limit will now apply, just in the region’s equivalent currency. The only exception as of now seems to be Korea, which Google shares will stay at $400 or the local equivalent. The previous change to the app pricing limit was set just a year prior, which saw it rise from $400 to $999.99.
For most, this really won’t change the way you use the Google Play Store, but for developers that are looking to expand their business and to make or offer bigger things, then upping the app purchase limit could mean reaching beyond what was once possible.
