Read update
Of course, Google got in on this trend in 2019 with the Play Store, providing access togames and apps with the Google Play Passfor a monthly fee, as well as special offers and discounts on other games and apps not in the catalog. The service — which costs $4.99 per month or $29.99 for the entire year — has become shockingly popular,growing 120%over the last year, and yet thetop selection of Play Pass apps and gamesrarely changes. So, the real question is: Why are so many people subscribing to Google Play Pass when many of the apps and games within can be purchased outright?
Best Google Play Pass games and apps available
Google Play Pass grows 120% in 2023
That’s a big chunk of growth
Google announced earlier this month at the Games Develop Summit (GDC) that the Google Play Pass service had grown 120 percent in 2023. Considering how pushy the company has been with Play Pass when downloading new apps, it comes as no surprise. The short-term benefits seem obvious, such as getting access to an unlimited selection of paid mobile apps and games without any ads for a comparably low price.
That is how they get you, though. Considering the selection of apps and games you’d actually want to play isn’t that vast, simply buying the ones you want is certainly more affordable, especially over the course of a couple of years. Sure, $30 for a year sounds like a bargain — assuming you’re willing to pay upfront — but that’s six $5 apps/games, twelve in year two, and eighteen in year three. When was the last time you used that many apps at once? It’s almost like paying endlessly for access to a handful of apps you enjoy using acts as a better deal for Google than its customers.
The Google Play Pass catalog is lacking
What games and apps are even available?
The lure of subscription services like Amazon Prime and Netflix is that they have a vast selection of top-tier content that is regularly updated, so the regular fee feels like you’re actually getting something in return. The Google Play Pass, on the other hand, does not feel that way, as you don’t get much bang for your buck. Yes, there are 1,000 different games and apps to choose from, which is 800 more thanApple Arcade, but does anyone actually want to use the majority? Can you even view a full list of what is available before subscribing? Of course not, being an informed consumer is the last thing Google wants, which is why the Play Store has been updated over the years to activelyhide actionable data behind extra clicks.
Google Play Pass vs. Apple Arcade: Which platform offers the most bang for your buck
What’s the difference between the two subscription services?
We will be the first to admit that there are some helpful apps that can get your life organized and a few fun games that can pass the time with the Google Play Pass. However, the reality is that you can already grab the majority for free or a flat price. Yes, you may have to endure a few ads, but that’s definitely better than a monthly fee slowly eating away at your financial security.
Even worse, the selection of apps and games doesn’t seem to change very often, at least not in any measurable way for users to track. There is no apparent “recently added” section or updated list to find. Yes, Google Play Pass will provide users with offers for other popular apps and games on the Play Store, like discounts for in-app purchases, but as far as we can tell, that’s all the freshness you’re going to get on a monthly basis. Even Google can’t make the case for Play Pass in any significant way, and yet the growth is off the charts regardless. Please make it make sense.
