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Android / Play Billing Parity

SKILL.md is iOS-first by default. This module covers Play-specific differences.

Per AppsFlyer 2026: Android subscription UA spend grew 4x faster than iOS YoY, with Indian Subcontinent driving 49% of net Android paid install growth. Android is no longer the afterthought.

Play Billing Library Concepts

Use Play Billing Library 9.0.0+ for new Android implementation work when possible. PBL 9 was released May 19, 2026, adds richer error context through sub-response codes, and removes previously deprecated APIs. If an app is on PBL 7/8, check the PBL 9 migration guide before touching billing code.

iOS Android (Play Billing v9)
Subscription Group Base Plan + Offers
Introductory Offer Offer eligibility (NEW_SUBSCRIBER, etc.)
Promotional Offer Promotion code or developer-determined offer
Offer Codes Promo codes
Win-Back Offers Re-entry offer (separate setup)
StoreKit 2 transactions Play Billing PurchaseResponse
App Store Server Notifications V2 Play Developer Notifications (RTDN)

Base Plan vs Offer

Play's mental model is:

  • Base Plan: the recurring product (annual, monthly)
  • Offers: modifications layered on (free trial, intro discount)

You can have multiple offers per base plan, eligible for different audiences (new subscriber, existing, etc.).

Subscription configuration

Subscription
├── Base Plan: monthly_premium ($9.99/month)
│   ├── Offer: 7-day free trial (NEW_SUBSCRIBER)
│   └── Offer: 50% off month 1 (EXISTING_NON_SUBSCRIBER)
└── Base Plan: annual_premium ($59.99/year)
    └── Offer: 14-day free trial (NEW_SUBSCRIBER)

Play-Specific Compliance

Play policy parallels to App Store

  • Clear pricing and renewal terms (similar to Apple Rule 3.1.2)
  • Restore purchases supported
  • Cancellation easily accessible
  • No dark patterns / forced subscription

Play unique requirements

  • EU Digital Markets Act (DMA): Android in EU must allow alternative billing systems for in-app purchases. Different from US/global.
  • Play Console "Subscription Center": users can manage subs from Play Store, not just in-app.
  • Grace Period + Account Hold: Play has 30-day grace period for failed payments by default. Implement notifications for both.
  • Age Signals / in-app product age ratings: Google Play is adding support for applicable US state app-store bills. If the app targets minors or sells age-sensitive IAP/subscriptions, check Play Age Signals API and in-app product age rating requirements.

Toggle paywall (Play stance)

Apple banned free-trial toggle paywalls on iOS in Jan 2026 through Guideline 3.1.2 enforcement. Play has not issued an equivalent rejection wave. Toggle paywalls remain technically allowed on Android, but for cross-platform clarity and lower support risk, replacing them everywhere is recommended.

Android Refund Reality

RevenueCat 2026:

  • Google Play involuntary billing failures: ~31% of cancellations
  • App Store: 14%

Android has higher payment failure rate due to:

  • Carrier billing in emerging markets
  • Wider variety of payment methods (UPI, Boleto, etc.)
  • Less uniform card requirements

Implication: Implement payment retry UX. Show grace period clearly. Don't lose subscribers to silent payment failures.

Trial Mechanics

Free trial via Play Billing

// Pseudo-config
ProductDetails subscription = ...
SubscriptionOfferDetails offer = subscription.subscriptionOfferDetails
   .firstOrNull { it.basePlanId == "annual_premium" && it.offerId == "free_trial_14d" }

Trial eligibility

Play tracks eligibility per offer. A user who has used a "NEW_SUBSCRIBER" offer cannot get it again. Different from App Store, which uses one-trial-per-subscription-group.

Win-Back / Re-entry

Apple has native Win-Back Offers (iOS 18+) shown on the App Store product page.

Play equivalent:

  • No native off-app surface
  • Must implement in-app via re-entry detection (user opens app, was previously subscribed but lapsed)
  • Use a Promotional offer with EXISTING_NON_SUBSCRIBER eligibility

Web Checkout (Cross-Platform)

Apple allows external purchase flows in more region-specific ways than it did before: US changes followed the Epic v. Apple court decision, EU changes follow DMA terms, and Japan adds alternative payments/distribution options under MSCA beginning with iOS 26.2. Treat this as a regional compliance surface, not a global paywall default. Play allows external web checkout globally (post Google v. Epic settlement) with restrictions.

Best practice:

  • Show web option only in storefronts where the current Apple/Google terms allow it
  • Apple Pay / Google Pay buttons prominent
  • Disclose: "External purchase — handled by [your company], not Apple/Google."

Tooling

Tool iOS Android
RevenueCat ✅ ✅
Adapty ✅ ✅
Superwall ✅ ✅ (newer)
Apphud ✅ ✅
Native (StoreKit 2) ✅ —
Native (Play Billing) — ✅

All major SDKs unify the API. Use one — don't write Play Billing or StoreKit by hand unless you have a specific reason.

Android-Specific Patterns That Don't Translate to iOS

  • Pre-paid plans (Play has explicit support; iOS doesn't)
  • Custom SKU offers with non-Apple-allowed structures
  • Carrier billing flows (visible in Play Console; not on Apple)

Source Pointers