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The original was posted on /r/androiddev by /u/_moertel on 2025-01-22 10:09:52+00:00.

Just a friendly warning to fellow devs with subscriptions and free trials on Google Play.

Google deemed my subscription button “deceptive” and took down my app without prior warning. The button was transparent about the subscription itself: “$X/month. Renews monthly. Cancel anytime.” but it did not make mention of a secret 3-day free trial that would come up for new users who tap the “Subscribe” button.

My app is back online, and the case closed. My solution was to delete the free trial from the Play Console. I’m not here to ask for help or for complaining. Merely to warn other devs. When the takedown happened, my app was last updated 9 months ago.

I understand that when you advertise a free trial and don’t make mention of the subscription, this would be a policy violation and hugely deceptive. However, I was oblivious to the reverse interpretation that if you advertise the subscription but don’t make mention of the free trial, this would count as a policy violation as well.

Be wiser than me. Update your UI. Prevent a sudden takedown which can hit you on a random Monday at 11PM.