Google has announced that it is adding Venmo as a payment option on Google Play. The integration allows users to utilize their Venmo balance or linked payment methods, such as bank accounts and cards, to pay for transactions on the platform.
The new payment method can be used for purchasing games, apps, add-ons, and other digital content. It is also accepted for paying for subscriptions within the Google Play ecosystem.
To link a Venmo account, users must navigate to the payment methods section within their Google Play account settings. Venmo is effectively exclusive to the United States, meaning this integration primarily affects US residents.
Existing Payment Landscape
Google Play already offers PayPal and Cash App as digital payment methods in the United States. PayPal, which owns Venmo, has been available as a billing option on the platform for over a decade. Google added Cash App as a payment method more than two years ago.
In the US, Google Play also accepts cards from American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and JCB. Outside the US, the company has experimented with allowing users to pay for digital purchases using cash at nearby stores.
Broader Billing Changes
This update follows recent changes where Google opened the Play Store to outside billing in the US, the UK, and Europe as part of its settlement with Epic Games. Developers in these regions can now offer an alternative payment system or link users to their own websites for purchases.
However, some alternative payment options on Google Play might not accept Venmo. Beyond the Play Store, Venmo can be used across other Google services, including YouTube. The service can also be used to tip creators within content-based apps on Google Play.
Will Sattelberg is a writer and podcaster at 9to5Google.
