Google Approves £260 Million Settlement With UK App Developers

The Competition Appeal Tribunal has approved a £260 million, or approximately $350 million, settlement between Google and UK app developers. The legal dispute centered on commissions charged on Google Play sales following a collective claim brought by Professor Barry Rodger on behalf of UK app developers.

Under the terms of the agreement, £160 million, or about $216 million, will be allocated directly as compensation for eligible developers. The remaining £100 million, roughly $134.6 million, will cover litigation funding, insurance, legal fees, and associated costs. Google has made no admission of liability or wrongdoing as part of the agreement.

While the developer claim has reached a settlement, Google still faces a separate consumer case brought by Liz Coll. That separate claim is currently scheduled to proceed to trial at a tribunal on October 5th, 2026. Coll alleges that approximately 20 million UK consumers paid more than they should have on Google Play due to Google holding a dominant position in Android app distribution and payment, charging an excessive 30% commission on digital purchases.

Coll stated that the developer settlement is an important step for the covered developers because it allows them to move toward receiving compensation. Google contests the allegations in the consumer action. The consumer claim operates on an opt-out basis, including businesses and consumers that bought apps, digital content, or subscriptions through Google Play between October 1st, 2015 and July 31st, 2026. The tribunal will ultimately determine whether Google engaged in the alleged abuses and if consumers paid inflated prices.