Google to allow third-party app stores on Play Store starting next week

Google has confirmed it will allow third-party app stores to operate within the Google Play Store for U.S. users starting July 22, 2026, following the withdrawal of a modified settlement with Epic Games that had sought to alter the court’s original mandate. The decision, announced in a court filing, marks the conclusion of a six-year legal battle over antitrust concerns, with Google agreeing to comply with a 2024 court order requiring rival app stores to be accessible via the Play Store.

The shift reverses Google’s earlier proposal for a “Registered App Stores” program, which would have required users to sideload third-party stores outside the Play Store. In a statement to the court, Google cited “uncertainty for the ecosystem” as the reason for abandoning the modified settlement, opting instead to adhere to the original injunction. The company emphasized its commitment to “maintaining Android’s industry-leading security” while enabling greater competition.

Starting July 22, third-party app stores will be downloadable directly from the Play Store, with developers able to opt out of having their apps listed through these stores. Google will charge a $5,000 annual fee for “security and policy reviews,” and stores must comply with requirements such as blocking malware, respecting intellectual property, and limiting distribution to U.S. users. The company also reiterated that apps distributed through third-party stores will remain subject to its service fees, though it has lowered in-app purchase commissions to 10% as part of a 2025 settlement with Epic Games.

The change aligns with a 2024 ruling by U.S. District Judge James Donato, which found Google guilty of anticompetitive practices in its app store policies. The original court order aimed to address Google’s monopoly over Android app distribution by allowing rival stores to operate within the Play Store. However, Google’s earlier sideloading proposal faced skepticism from the court, including criticism from MIT professor Nancy Rose, who argued that requiring users to leave the Play Store to download alternative stores would create “additional friction” and hinder competition.

“An entrant marketing an app store through web download must persuade the user to leave the mobile environment she knows, navigate to a possibly unfamiliar site, and complete an installation there. An app store available within Play converts the same marketing into an installation inside the store the user already uses,” Rose stated in a report cited by Bloomberg.

The rollout will initially apply only to the U.S., with Google noting that other regions may continue under its “Registered App Stores” model. The company has not clarified whether third-party stores distributed via the Play Store will face different rules than those in the global program. Additionally, it remains unclear how Google will enforce the 1% malware threshold for store removal or whether the Play Store’s security measures will differ for registered stores.

The development has immediate implications for app developers and users. While the change could foster greater competition in app distribution, Google’s strict requirements—such as the U.S.-only distribution rule and annual fees—may limit participation. The company has also emphasized its commitment to maintaining “industry-leading security,” stating that it will continue to comply with the court’s injunction while fostering a competitive ecosystem.

For users, the shift could lead to lower prices and increased choice, though the effectiveness of third-party stores in overcoming Google’s network effects remains uncertain. The full impact on competition, user experience, and developer revenue will become clearer in the coming weeks as third-party app stores begin appearing in the Play Store.