Google Play Billing will be an in-app option alongside Spotify's current payment system for Spotify's Android streaming app users in the future.

Google first announced in 2020 that it would require all apps in the Play Store to use its billing system, but that date was later pushed back to this month.

As Google has chosen Spotify as its first "User Choice Billing" partner, Android apps will soon be able to use their own payment system as long as Play Store billing is also an option.

As the first partner for User Choice Billing, Google has teamed up with Spotify. Google Play Billing will be an in-app option alongside Spotify's current payment system for Spotify's Android streaming app users in the future.

Spotify says it will be able to "continue to freely communicate with users about our Premium subscription service, promote discounts and promotions, and give listeners on our free tier the ability to convert to Premium, directly in the app" as part of this multi-year agreement. The company is collaborating with Google to develop User Choice Billing, with the first iteration due "later this year."

Google has for a long time said in favor of service fees, as they are necessary to support the Play Store (infrastructure, security, etc.) and its Android platform model. Spotify subscribers will be able to manage their subscriptions in the Play Store (profile avatar > Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions) if they choose to switch.

In response to South Korea's mandate for alternate in-app purchase billing, Google Play is piloting User Choice Billing with a "small number of participating developers."

As of this announcement, the new feature is inaccessible. Instead, Google's product and engineering teams will need some time to create the new experience. Upon going live, Spotify users will be able to see both billing options side-by-side in their app. You'll be redirected to the Spotify billing system and user interface if you opt for that payment option. They will be redirected to the Google Play Billing page if they select that option.