LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — If you made a purchase on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023, and were affected by the tech company’s alleged anticompetitive practices, you may soon receive payouts from a $700 million settlement.
Google and all U.S. attorneys general previously reached an agreement in 2023, but those who qualify for the settlement only started receiving notifications earlier this month. Several attorneys general also confirmed the deal on Tuesday, including Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford.
The coalition of states accused Google of overcharging customers who used its Google Play Store to buy and make purchases in-app, and of “monopolizing app distribution,” limiting the choices of apps available.
Like Apple does in its iPhone app store, Google collects commissions ranging from 15% to 30% on in-app purchases — fees that state attorneys general contended drove prices higher than they would have been had there been an open market for payment processing. Those commissions generated billions of dollars in profit annually for Google, according to evidence presented in the trial focused on its Play Store.
Google has denied any wrongdoing.
The settlement still needs final approval in court, and a hearing is set for April 30, 2026.
To qualify for a payment — which will total “at least $2,” according to the settlement website — you must have made a qualifying purchase in the Google Play Store between August 16, 2016, and September 30, 2023, while residing in the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands. Qualifying Play Store purchases include buying an app or in-app content, or paying for services like subscriptions or ad-free versions.
You may receive more than $2, depending on how much you spent on qualifying app or in-app purchases.
Once the settlement is approved, an estimated 102 million consumers will begin receiving automatic payments through PayPal or Venmo at the email or phone number tied to their Google Play account, officials said. If consumers’ Google Play contact information doesn’t match an existing PayPal or Venmo account, they will get directions on how to set up an account or redirect the payment.
The last day to opt out or file an objection is Feb. 19, 2026. The court is scheduled to finalize the settlement on April 30, 2026.
Because payments will be automatic to qualifying class members, there is no need to file a claim. However, the settlement administrators say there will be a supplemental claims process to allow those who believe they qualify but did not receive a payment to make a claim.
If you do not have a PayPal or Venmo account and do not want to register for either, do not have access to the email or phone number previously used with your Google Play account, or expected a payment and do not receive it when they’re disbursed, you will be able to partake in the supplemental claim process.
That process will begin after automatic payments have been processed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.