Google Play Store just got a payment method Android users actually want

Credit: Google Published Aug 10, 2026, 11:01 AM EDT Timi is the news and deals reporter for Android Police, who has been reporting on technology since 2008. He has worked in tech retail and also the IT space, providing hardware and software support, which gives him a unique perspective on the tech that he covers. This allows him to effectively break down complex subjects into easy-to-read pieces that even casual readers can enjoy. Before joining Android Police, he was a news writer for XDA, where he eventually transitioned to covering deals. He also worked as an editor and reporter for Neowin, where he covered news and attended major tech events like CES. He also reviewed phones, tablets, PC products, and other devices. In addition, he also created video content for the Neowin YouTube channel. Sign in to your Android Police account If you're someone that lives on Android, you'll know how important the Google Play Store can be. Not only does it house millions of free apps, but it also offers a way to purchase music, movies, TV shows, and books. It's an essential part of the experience, which is why Google offers so many different ways to pay. Today, the company is expanding its payment methods, offering Venmo as a valid option going forward. A new way to pay Users will be able to link their Venmo account with the Google Play Store and use it to make purchases and payments on the Play Store. The great part about this is that you can use the balance on your Venmo account, or a linked payment method. As you can imagine, this is all quite secure and just provides another option for Google Play Store users. In order to set this up, you will need to head into the Settings and navigate to the Payment Methods section. This is an option that will be available to those in the US. It will join payment options like Cash App and PayPal. The Play Store in the US also accepts all major credit cards, with options for Visa, MasterCard, Discover, JCB, and American Express. Refining the experience Over the years, we've seen the Play Store experience get kind of rough. The platform doesn't exactly make it easy to find what you're looking for, and part of that problem is the sheer volume of apps that are available. We wouldn't be complaining about this if the apps were good, but there are a lot of low-effort apps to weed through in order to find that diamond in the rough. Google does its best to eliminate apps like this, removing millions of apps from the Play Store every year. It's also trying to introduce improvements to the Play Store, with better search using Gemini to create a conversational exploration experience. We hope Google will tighten the approval process in the future to refine its offerings. The future is coming While software is a major part of the Android experience, hardware is important too. Google will announce new devices this week, showcasing its new Pixel 11 phones on August 12. We've already seen quite a bit from the brand itself with carefully curated teases, but one of the biggest talking points about its new phones is that it could be going back to a notification light with its Pro series. Luckily, we won't have to wait long to find out.