Sophie Blake
Aptoide has filed an antitrust lawsuit in the United States against Google, alleging the company has restricted competition in the Android ecosystem by controlling both app distribution and in-app billing.
The complaint, lodged in a federal court in San Francisco, claims that Google’s practices violate U.S. antitrust laws by limiting the ability of rival app stores to compete. Aptoide argues that Google maintains what it describes as an “anticompetitive chokehold,” preventing alternative platforms from gaining meaningful traction.
According to the filing, Aptoide offers lower commissions to developers and reduced costs for users but has been unable to scale its position due to restricted access to key resources. The company alleges that Google steers developers toward its own Google Play Store and related services, while limiting rivals’ access to major app developers and exclusive content.
Aptoide, headquartered in Lisbon, reports that its platform hosts more than 436,000 apps and reached over 200 million annual users as of 2024. The company is seeking injunctive relief to halt the alleged practices, along with unspecified treble damages.
The lawsuit adds to a series of ongoing regulatory and legal challenges facing Google. In a separate case involving Epic Games, the company agreed in late 2025 to implement changes to its Android and app store policies following a jury verdict that found it had suppressed competition. That ruling led to court-mandated reforms affecting how developers can distribute apps and process payments.
Google has also been contesting a broader antitrust ruling related to its search business, in which a U.S. court determined in 2024 that its search engine operated as a monopoly. While the court ordered certain data-sharing remedies, it did not require structural changes such as divesting Android or its Chrome browser. Appeals in that case remain ongoing.
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