Google is yet again in the middle of a legal battle. The third-party app store Aptoide has filed an antitrust lawsuit against the American tech giant on 14th April, 2026, saying the company is basically controlling how apps are distributed and paid for on Android.
As reported by Reuters, Aptoide claims that Google has too much control over the ecosystem, pushing developers toward the Play Store. Because of this, it is really hard for other app stores to compete, and in turn, limits options for both developers and users, in what is termed as an “anticompetitive chokehold”.
In case you’re not familiar, Aptoide is a Portugal-based third-party alternative app store where you can download apps outside of Google Play. It’s been around for a while and has a pretty big user base, but getting major apps onto the platform has always been a challenge.
This isn’t the first time Google has been in the spotlight for this. Over the past couple of years, there have been multiple cases around how it handles its platform. In 2024, a US court ruled that Google had an illegal monopoly in search.
Then, in 2025, Fortnite makers Epic Games won its case, which forced Google to loosen some control around app payments and distribution. Because of the same, we now have Epic Games Store on mobile.
We’re also seeing similar pressure globally since last year. Japan, for example, has already pushed rules that require companies like Google and Apple to open up their app ecosystems, allowing third-party stores and different payment methods.
Coming back to this case, Aptoide is asking for changes in how Google operates, along with damages, though the exact numbers aren’t out yet. The company says that if things were more open, it could offer better pricing and lower cuts for developers.
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