A London tribunal has begun hearing a consumer claim worth over £1 billion, alleging Google misused its Android dominance to levy inflated commissions on app purchases, with costs passed on to roughly 20 million users. Google denies wrongdoing.
Google went on trial at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London on a consumer lawsuit valued at more than £1 billion (about $1.33 billion), which accuses the company of overcharging for apps through its Play Store.
The claim says Google exploited its dominant position to take excessive commissions on app downloads, in-app purchases and subscriptions, and that those costs eventually landed on ordinary buyers.
It is brought on behalf of around 20 million people in the UK who bought apps or paid for in-app content and subscriptions between 2015 and July 2026. Consumer advocate Liz Coll is leading the case, which joins a growing list of UK legal challenges against big technology firms over their digital marketplaces.
What the claimants allege
Lawyers for Coll argue that Google’s control over how Android apps are distributed let it demand cuts of up to 30% on Play Store sales. They say developers often passed some or all of that burden to customers, making digital products costlier than they would have been in a competitive market.
As an illustration, the legal team points to YouTube Premium. It says Google handed on to subscribers the fee it paid when selling that service through Apple’s App Store.
The tribunal must decide whether consumers really paid more because of Google’s practices. These allegations are disputed, and the judges will weigh evidence from both sides.
Google’s defence
Alphabet, Google’s parent, is fighting the case. It says the claim ignores the choices open to Android users and the competition the Play Store faces.
A company spokesperson said Google’s fees are among the lowest in the industry. Its lawyers add that the Play Store competes for both developers and consumers, including against Apple’s App Store and other ways of distributing apps.
A broader reckoning for big tech
The trial reflects wider scrutiny of how tech platforms charge for access to their marketplaces. Comparable UK actions have targeted Apple’s App Store and Sony’s PlayStation Store over commissions reported to reach 30%.
Google has also battled Epic Games, maker of Fortnite, over its app store rules. Epic’s own UK claim was due to be heard alongside Coll’s. In March 2026, the two companies reached a global settlement under which Google said it would widen billing options and cut developer fees. Last month, Google also agreed a £260 million settlement in a separate developer-led case, without admitting liability.
Why it matters
App stores are a vital route to smartphone users, and commission rates shape how businesses price apps and subscriptions. A win for the claimants could push platforms to rethink their fee models and raise the question of compensating consumers for costs allegedly passed on to them.
For now, none of the claims has been proven. The outcome will hinge on the tribunal’s findings, the evidence presented and any remedies ordered.
