A Portuguese app store company, Aptoide, has initiated a new antitrust lawsuit in the United States, alleging that Google is stifling competition in the distribution of Android applications and payment processing. This legal action, reported by Reuters, was filed in a federal court located in San Francisco.
Allegations of Anticompetitive Conduct
Aptoide, which claims to be the third-largest Android app store globally, contends that Google has established a monopoly by exerting control over both the distribution of apps and the processing of payments on Android devices. The company is seeking court orders to halt these practices and is also pursuing triple damages.
The lawsuit asserts that Google’s actions have significantly hindered Aptoide’s ability to compete, despite the latter offering lower commissions to developers and more affordable options for users. Aptoide argues that Google restricts access to popular applications and actively encourages developers to utilize its own Play Store and associated services.
In its legal filing, Aptoide expressed that it could have exerted more influence on Google’s pricing and policies, “but for Google’s ‘anticompetitive chokehold’ that shuts out smaller rivals.”
Previously, in October 2018, Aptoide achieved a legal victory against Google when a Portuguese court mandated that the tech giant cease the removal of the Aptoide app from users’ devices without their consent. Furthermore, Aptoide was one of the initial complainants in the European Commission’s Android antitrust case, which resulted in a record €4.34 billion fine against Google.
The Epic Games Verdict
This latest lawsuit emerges amid heightened regulatory and judicial scrutiny of Google’s business practices across various markets. In December 2023, a U.S. jury ruled in favor of Epic Games, determining that Google had maintained an illegal monopoly in both the Android app distribution and in-app billing sectors. This verdict represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to curtail the company’s dominance over the Android ecosystem.
Court-Ordered Reforms to Google Play
Following the Epic Games ruling, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California instructed Google, in October 2024, to implement extensive reforms aimed at enhancing competition within the Android ecosystem. These reforms included provisions for third-party app stores to be distributed via the Play Store, the prohibition of exclusive agreements with developers and device manufacturers, and restrictions on Google mandating the use of its Play Billing system. The objective of these measures is to “level the playing field” for competing app distribution platforms.
Proposed Settlement with Epic
In November 2025, Google and Epic Games proposed a settlement that would simplify the process for users to download and install third-party app stores, while also allowing developers to direct users to alternative payment methods. This proposal included capped service fees of 9% or 20% on transactions utilizing alternative billing systems, indicating a broader shift towards increased flexibility for developers while still maintaining Google’s security framework.
Broader Antitrust Scrutiny
Google’s dominance has also come under examination in related digital markets. In August 2024, a U.S. District Court identified the company as a monopolist in the general search market under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, citing exclusionary agreements and the “power of defaults” that restrict competition and innovation. These findings amplify concerns regarding Google’s overarching strategy to sustain market power through contractual and technological controls.
Aptoide’s legal action underscores the belief among smaller competitors that, despite the ongoing litigation involving Epic Games and subsequent court-mandated changes, Google continues to wield considerable influence over Android app distribution.
