23-05-2025
Android owners warned over new apps on Google Play Store that could empty bank accounts of whopping £5,000
ANDROID owners should be wary of a big change coming to the Google Play Store that means some apps could cost thousands to install.
Google has just raised its pricing limit from £1,000 to £4,999, according to Android Authority.
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The tech giant bumped its maximum app prices from £200 to £400 in 2015, and then again last year to £1,000.
The price limit applies worldwide - except South Korea, which will stick to the equivalent of a £400 maximum.
So if you see any blisteringly expensive apps on the Play Store - it's not a glitch, or a joke.
You don't want to accidentally buy something you cannot really afford.
And they're not scams either.
Google has made sure these apps have to prove themselves before whacking on such a lofty price tag.
For example, only established developers in good standing with Google are eligible.
These apps must also prove they are bringing in at least $1million a year in app sales.
Then they can formally request Google give them the uplift, after explaining exactly why the pricing is justified.
Google's Gemini AI app lets you chat out loud with shockingly humanlike virtual helper
It's not yet clear what type of apps could cost so much - or who would be buying them.
Although the appetite for artificial intelligence (AI) applications could explain it.
Google itself recently introduced an eye-watering $3,000 per year subscription for AI Ultra - so it's no surprise these big numbers are on the brain.
Currently, the most expensive app on the Google Play Store appears to be a spoof game called Fisherpunk, which costs an eyewatering £300.
Despite its price, and incredibly basic design, Fisherpunk has been downloaded more than 1,000 times.
On the rival Apple Store, CyberTuner, a software tool for tuning pianos, is available for a whopping £999.
WHAT CAN GOOGLE PLAY PROTECT DO?
Google Play Protect can help shield Android owners from dodgy apps. Here's the official list of actions it'll take...
It runs a safety check on apps from the Google Play Store before you download them.
It checks your device for potentially harmful apps from other sources. These harmful apps are sometimes called malware.
It warns you about potentially harmful apps.
It may deactivate or remove harmful apps from your device.
It warns you about detected apps that violate our Unwanted Software Policy by hiding or misrepresenting important information.
It sends you privacy alerts about apps that can get user permissions to access your personal information, violating our developer policy.
It may reset app permissions to protect your privacy on certain Android versions.
It may prevent an application from being installed that is unverified and uses sensitive device permissions that are commonly targeted by scammers to commit financial fraud.
Picture Credit: Google
