Google’s Android dev verification: Free and paid tiers confirmed
▼ Summary
– Google is making sideloading apps more difficult by increasing reliance on cloud verification and introducing new fees for developers.
– A new Android Developer Verifier system will require apps to have Google-registered package names and signing keys during installation, potentially disrupting F-Droid.
– Internet access will often be needed for app verification, though devices will cache common sideloaded apps and alternative stores may use pre-auth tokens.
– Developers must pay a $25 fee for app verification, mirroring Google Play’s registration cost, which Google claims covers administrative expenses.
– Hobbyists and students can use a free email-based verification tier with installation limits, but Google encourages paying for full verification.
Navigating the future of Android app distribution means understanding Google’s newly detailed verification system, which introduces both free and paid tiers for developers. While the company reassures users that sideloading apps from outside the official Play Store will remain possible, the process is set to become more involved, leaning on cloud-based checks and introducing fees for many creators. A new component called the Android Developer Verifier will be central to this change, arriving with Android 16, and it promises to reshape how applications are installed and validated on mobile devices.
Phones will soon need to confirm that any app being installed uses a package name and signing keys officially registered with Google. This shift could disrupt popular third-party platforms like the open-source F-Droid store, which may struggle to adapt to the mandatory verification steps. Because storing a complete database of every approved app directly on a device isn’t practical, an active internet connection will often be necessary to complete installation. Google mentions that a local cache of frequently sideloaded apps might help sometimes, and it is exploring a pre-authorization token system for alternative app stores to reduce constant online checks, though specifics remain undecided.
The financial side of verification, once unclear, is now coming into focus. Developers looking to distribute apps widely will face a one-time registration fee of $25, similar to the current Google Play developer fee. Google states this charge helps cover administrative expenses for what it describes as a largely automated verification procedure. This means anyone wishing to share their software through channels outside Google’s ecosystem must pay the company for the right to do so.
However, there is an exception for smaller-scale developers. Hobbyists, students, or individuals creating apps for limited distribution can opt for a free verification tier requiring only an email address. This no-cost alternative comes with restrictions, including an unspecified cap on how many times these apps can be installed. The team behind the system actively recommends that most developers choose the full, paid verification path for broader distribution. Further details about the exact installation limits for the free tier are still awaited as the policy is finalized.
(Source: Ars Technica)
