Google faces £1 billion UK lawsuit over Play Store fees

A trial began in London on October 6, 2026, in a class-action lawsuit valued at more than £1 billion ($1.33 billion) against Google. The claim accuses the company of abusing its dominant position to charge excessive commissions on app developers.

The lawsuit was brought on behalf of approximately 20 million consumers who bought apps through Google's Play Store or paid for in-app purchases and subscriptions between 2015 and July 2026. Lawyers representing consumer advocate Liz Coll, who leads the action, argue that Google used its dominance to collect fees of up to 30%, which developers then passed along to consumers.

Google's parent company, Alphabet, is fighting the lawsuit. A company spokesperson stated that the lawsuit ignores the choice Android provides and said Google charges some of the lowest rates in the market. Google's legal team called the suit unfounded and argued before the Competition Appeal Tribunal that the Play Store faces strong competitive constraints from platforms including Apple's App Store.

The hearing follows similar UK cases against Apple and Sony over app stores that also charged fees of up to 30%. In March 2026, Google and Fortnite maker Epic Games resolved their dispute in a global settlement where Google agreed to expand billing options and cut developer rates. In September 2026, Google also reached a £260 million settlement in another app developer lawsuit without admitting liability.