Google Play Store is ending its carrier billing program, a payment feature that allows customers to charge app purchases, subscriptions, and digital content to their phone bills. The service has been gradually eliminated by the major U.S. carriers over the years. Verizon ended its participation in January 2022, attributing it as a business decision rather than security concerns. AT&T then caught up with it in September 2022, and then T-Mobile ended it in August 2024. Most recently, US Cellular customers lost carrier billing on March 25, 2025. Existing US Cellular customers can continue to utilize carrier billing for non-subscription purchases up until March 31, 2026.
Carrier billing was initially introduced as a simple way to make payments for Google Play Store transactions, grouping charges into one monthly bill. But its elimination leaves users with alternative payment methods such as credit or debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay balances, Google Play gift cards, and Cash App.
The reasons behind the carriers’ decision to withdraw support are not certain in the majority of instances. Verizon explicitly stated that it was a business decision, yet AT&T and T-Mobile did not mention it. In a few cases, Google used the security concerns as a basis for the removal of this feature.
Phasing out of carrier billing is a sunset period for Google Play Store customers who have adopted this payment method as convenient. Customers are asked to renew their payment methods ahead of time to avoid interruption in their subscription or purchases.
