Can’t pay? Google Play Store now lets you ask a friend to foot the bill

Google Play Store payment just got more flexible. At Google I/O, the company announced that its “Ask someone else to pay” feature is rolling out to four more countries—now available in the US, Japan, Mexico, and Indonesia. Google Play Store payment already supports credit cards, PayPal, code redemption, and more, but this option is a little different.

The idea is simple: if you want to buy an app or an in-app item but can’t—or don’t want to—pay yourself, you can now tap “Ask someone else to pay” at checkout. This generates a payment link that you can send to anyone, even if they aren’t part of your Google family group. Whoever gets the link will see the item and your email, and they’ll have 24 hours to complete the purchase.

Google Play Store payment with “Ask someone else to pay” was first launched in India, but now it’s heading global. The use cases are obvious—sending a game or app request as a gift, or, let’s be honest, possibly spamming your friends and family for that new app you want. Google does warn that whoever pays needs your full email address and will know exactly what they’re buying.

It’s a feature that could make gifting easier, but it could also become a nuisance if abused. Still, it’s a unique way Google Play Store payment stands out from the usual options—and now, a lot more people can try it out.

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