Google Play Billing Library handles purchases, but verification, token security, entitlements, and paywalls are on you. Tierux wraps all of that into one API — with AI-agent setup in minutes and Android-native depth.
| Capability | Tierux | Play Billing (DIY) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | AI-agent over MCP — service account + APIs automated | Manual service account, API config, Pub/Sub setup |
| Server-side verification | Store-verified on our servers, zero-trust client | Build and maintain your own verification server |
| Token security | Encrypted vault — tokens never stored raw | Build your own token handling and storage |
| Entitlement management | Built-in — queryable via REST API | Build your own entitlement state machine |
| Remote paywall config | Yes — change without app release | Hardcoded in your app |
| Cross-platform (iOS) | Yes — unified entitlement model (App Store support with limitations) | App Store requires separate implementation |
| Pricing | Flat $39/mo up to 1,000 subscribers | Free — but engineering hours are your cost |
| Subscription lifecycle sync | RTDN handled automatically | Build your own RTDN webhook handlers |
| Win-back / cancellation offers | Yes | Requires custom implementation |
| Maintenance burden | Zero — managed platform | Ongoing — API changes, security patches |
The Google Play Billing Library is Google's native client-side SDK and is free to use. The cost is in engineering time — building server-side verification, token security, entitlement management, and ongoing maintenance. Tierux provides these as a managed service on top of Play Billing.
You want to ship Android subscription billing fast without building server-side infrastructure. You need cross-platform support — Google Play today, App Store in progress. You value token security, predictable flat pricing, and want your AI agent to handle setup over MCP.
You have engineering capacity to build server-side verification and token handling, your app is Android-only, you have no need for remote paywalls or cross-platform support, and you want to keep everything in-house with zero external dependencies beyond Google.