A class action accusing Google of overcharging UK consumers through the Play Store opened in London on 6 October 2026. Lawyers for the claimants say about 20 million people could share a payout of up to £1.2 billion. Google denies the claims.
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The claim at a glance
| Detail | What is alleged or reported |
|---|---|
| Court | Competition Appeal Tribunal, London |
| Trial opened | 6 October 2026 |
| Who is covered | About 20 million UK consumers |
| Period | Purchases since 2015 |
| Core allegation | Google's commission of up to 30% on digital purchases broke competition law |
| Damages sought | Up to £1.2 billion, according to the claimants' lawyers |
What the claimants argue
The case turns on the fee Google takes from app developers. Google charges up to 30% on app sales, subscriptions and in-app digital content bought through the Play Store.
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The claimants say that fee was excessive and that developers passed the cost on. The result, they argue, was higher prices for anyone buying apps or digital content on Android for more than a decade.
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What Google says
Google rejects the claim. Its lawyers told the tribunal the company is not dominant in the market for handling digital content transactions between developers and consumers, Bloomberg reports. Google has long argued that Android gives users a choice of app stores.
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The wider app store picture
This trial follows several rulings against app store fees, as set out in Bloomberg's report, republished by Claims Journal.
- The same tribunal ruled last year that Apple abused its dominant position by charging app developers excessive commission.
- Google's Play Store was fined €430 million in the EU this year for restricting developers from pointing users to cheaper purchase options.
- The EU fined Apple €1.8 billion in 2024, and later €500 million under the Digital Markets Act.
What it means for app developers
The case is brought for consumers, but the commission at its centre is the one developers pay.
- Pricing. A ruling against Google would strengthen the argument for lower fees and alternative billing.
- Margins. If you price Android and web purchases differently, keep records of why.
- Planning. Do not build a business model on a fee change that has not happened. The trial has only just started.
What it means for UK Android users
Nothing changes yet. The tribunal has to hear the evidence and rule before any money is paid.
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