Why is Spotify Looking to Process Payments Themselves on Android?

Spotify is looking to process payments itself on Android, and one of the main reasons is to bypass the so-called app store tax. Find out more right here.

It appears as though Spotify – one of the world’s largest audio streaming and media service providers, which gives people access to millions of songs and other unique content from people across the globe, will soon be bypassing Android billing to avoid paying the up to 30 percent cut of developers’ app revenue that is normally imposed. This is also often referred to as app store tax.

It’s already widely known that Spotify is currently in the testing stage of trying out its very own unique payment processing service. In the past, Spotify, Epic Games, and several other major app companies have even taken companies like Google and Android to court in an effort to get regulators to investigate the overpriced billing fees, which are coupled with curation services and hosting fees.

What is User Choice Billing?

In early 2022, Google revealed plans for a new initiative called User Choice Billing, which would allow users to bypass the standard Google Play billing services on Android, and it would allow them to select their preferred payment solution instead. Spotify has already started testing User Choice Billing in around 35 major global markets.

From this day onward, the people in the markets where this new initiative is being tested will be able to choose how they make their payments to continue using Spotify in a way that’s more convenient for the user instead of being forced to use a certain type of payment method. It has been labeled as a step in the right direction, and others have likened it to leveling the field. The difference is, you will now see more payment selections, such as Spotify (new), Google Pay (will always be included as a viable payment solution), Visa, and MasterCard, etc., instead of just one payment solution being offered.

It’s kind of like Casumo Casino, which has multiple payment options available for fully registered members instead of just one. When you visit the cashier section at this trusted site, you can now deposit and withdraw using a wide range of payment options, such as Switch, Solo, Visa, MasterCard, bank transfers, Skrill, and NETELLER, to name just a few trusted online payment solutions.

However, Google will still get a piece of the pie no matter what payment method the user selects, even if they are processed directly through Spotify. Google has said that when someone uses an alternative payment method, the service fee that’s incurred by the developer, in this case, Spotify, will simply be charged 4% less.

How much is Spotify?

This all depends on which plan you go for. For example, there are three main plans, and they include:

Student plan – which starts from as little as $4.99
Family plans – which you can get for around $14.99
Spotify Premium plan, which is around $9.99 per month

How do I get Spotify?

If you’re looking to get Spotify so that you can listen to hours of music, head over to the official Spotify website directly from your web browser (using any modern smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop device with a decent internet/Wi-Fi connection), and then register your free account. You then need to select your preferred Spotify plan, and then you need to download and install the free Spotify app onto your preferred device, which takes just seconds to complete.

All that’s left to do now is sign into your new Spotify account from any of your preferred devices so that you can start listening to your favorite music. It’s that simple.

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Tags: Android, Spotify

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.