Google app prices plummet to ‘better suit’ locals

18 Nov 2015

Prices of apps in the Google Play Store are dropping in countries all across the world as the Android king adapts to local levels of income as a way of encouraging more purchases.

Posting a blog on the change, Google Play product manager Alistair Pott noted the company’s plan to “better suit local consumers”, with 17 countries receiving price adjustments down from the standard 99c (or equivalent).

The move follows a pilot programme in India earlier this year, with developers now given “the option” to reduce prices of both apps and in-app purchases.

Developers can lower the price of their apps and games right away by visiting the Google Play Developer Console and clicking on “Pricing & Distribution” or “In-app Products” for their apps.

“Every market has its own unique challenges and opportunities,” said Pott. “Purchasing behaviour, in particular, varies significantly between markets.

“So to provide developers with more flexibility, we’ve worked to adapt Google Play pricing options to better suit local consumers and make content more accessible.”

Countries affected:

  • Brazil: R$ 0.99 (was R$2.00)
  • Chile: CLP $200.00 (was CLP $500.00)
  • Colombia: COP$ 800.00 (was COP$ 2000.00)
  • Hungary: Ft 125.00 (was Ft 225.00)
  • Indonesia: Rp 3,000.00 (was Rp 12,000.00)
  • Malaysia: RM 1.00 (was RM 3.50)
  • Mexico: MXN$ 5.00 (was MXN$ 9.90)
  • Peru: S/. 0.99 (was S/. 3.00)
  • Philippines: ₱15.00 (was ₱43.00)
  • Poland: zł1.79 (was zł2.99)
  • Russia: руб 15.00 (was руб 30.00)
  • Saudi Arabia:﷼ 0.99 (was 4.00﷼)
  • South Africa: R3.99 (was R10.00)
  • Thailand: ฿10.00 (was ฿32.00)
  • Turkey: ₺0.59 (was ₺2.00)
  • Ukraine: ₴5.00 (was ₴8.00)
  • Vietnam: ₫6,000 (was ₫21,000.00)

Android image via Nick Fox/Shutterstock

Gordon Hunt was a journalist with Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com