The builder is free. Publishing has real costs — here they are.
We would rather you budget correctly than discover fees halfway through a launch.
What costs nothing here
- Signed APK builds, unlimited, every feature enabled
- All listing-asset tools: icon, screenshots, feature graphic, listing preview, listing text, QR code, palette, social kit, promo video
- Every publishing guide and the checklist
- Rebuilds when Google raises the target API level
The one thing that costs money here: the AAB
Google Play accepts new apps only as an Android App Bundle. The APK + AAB bundle is US$5, one-time, per build — paid on the download step through Dodo Payments. You get both files immediately in the browser and a copy by email as a backup. No subscription, no account; if you rebuild with new settings later, that is a new build.
What you will pay elsewhere
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| APK + AAB bundle (this site) | US$5, once per build | The AAB is the file Play requires. Dodo Payments checkout; instant download plus email backup. |
| Google Play developer registration | US$25, once | Non-refundable. Requires identity verification; organisations need a D-U-N-S number (free, but can take weeks). |
| Closed testing period (personal accounts) | Time: 14 days minimum | 12 opted-in testers must stay enrolled the whole time. Not a fee, but it is the most common launch-date surprise. |
| Google's cut on sales | 15% on the first US$1M/year of digital goods; 30% above | Only for digital goods and subscriptions sold through Play Billing. Physical goods via your own checkout: 0% to Google. |
| OneSignal push | Free tier; paid above | Check current limits before relying on it. |
| Domain, hosting, SSL | Whatever you pay now | The app displays your live site; if the site goes down, so does the app. |
| Privacy policy | Free if you write it | Required. Our guide gives a structure; generators exist if you prefer. |
| Apple App Store | US$99/year + a different build | Not produced here. Android only. |
How this site is funded
Display advertising on these pages, plus the US$5 AAB bundle. That is the entire business model, and it is why the download contains no ads, no analytics beacon and no "built with" attribution — the trade is that you see ads while you're here, not in your product.
Will the builder become paid?
What is free today stays free. If we ever add a paid service, it will be a separate, clearly labelled addition, not a gate in front of existing features.