Mobile apps · Comparison
Google Play vs the App Store
Getting an app onto phones means going through one store per platform. The fees are in the same range; the steps before the first release are not.
2 options · 9 questions side by side · updated
| Compare | Google Play | Apple App Store |
|---|---|---|
| Developer fee | $25 once | $99 a year |
| Before the first release | New personal accounts: 14-day closed test with 12 testers | No testing period, but App Review |
| Review | Automated and manual, hours to days | Manual App Review for every version |
| Beta testing | Internal, closed and open tracks | TestFlight, up to 10,000 testers |
| Upload format | AAB, signed with an upload key | Archive built and signed in Xcode |
| Company accounts | Need a D-U-N-S number | Need a D-U-N-S number |
| Commission | About 15% on the first $1M a year; details vary by region | 30%, or 15% for small developers |
| Gradual rollout | Staged rollout by percentage | Phased release over seven days |
| Outside the store | Sideloading allowed; developer verification from 2026 | Only in the EU and Japan, through other marketplaces |
How to choose between Google Play and Apple App Store
- Budget for both stores if the app targets both platforms: $25 once for Google Play and $99 every year for Apple.
- Plan two to three extra weeks for a first Android launch on a new personal account, or register as an organisation to skip the closed test.
- Expect Apple's review to be stricter on design, privacy and payments, and leave slack in the schedule for a possible rejection.
The options
- Google PlayGoogle's website for publishing Android apps on Google Play: uploading builds, running tests, writing the store listing, and watching installs, ratings and crashes.
- Apple App StoreApple's website for publishing apps on the App Store: uploading builds, managing TestFlight, setting prices and in-app purchases, and sending each release to App Review.
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