Google Kills Off Paid-For Chrome Extensions

Google has announced that it will no longer be possible for developers of Chrome extensions to charge for their creations. The change comes as part of an overhaul of the Chrome Web Store which sees the payment system being deprecated.

While the change seems like a dramatic change of heart by Google, it is an extension of a change that was introduced earlier in the year. Back in March, in a bid to clamp down on fraudulent extensions, the company suspended the ability to submit new paid-for extensions. The new announcement means that the option will never return.

Initially, neither developers nor Chrome users will notice much of a difference. With paid extensions and in-app purchases having already been disabled for six months, Google says that “this change, in effect since March 2020, is now permanent”.

Come December, Google is disabling the free trial option for extensions, meaning that the Try Now button will no longer be shown in the Chrome Web Store. Developers who already have purchase options configured will be able to make money in this way until the beginning of February next year, but after this time existing items and in-app purchases can no longer charge money with Chrome Web Store payments.

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