Do I need a developer account to publish an app?

January 10, 2026· 5 min readUpdated June 7, 2026

Short answer: yes, one per store. Every app store requires its own developer account, with its own fee and ID verification. Here is the full table.

Developer accounts at a glance

Store	Fee	ID required	Approval
Google Play	25$ once	Yes	24–48h
Apple App Store / Mac App Store	99$/year	Yes	24–48h
Microsoft Store	19$ once (individual)	Yes	24–72h
Amazon Appstore	Free	Yes	~24h
Samsung Galaxy Store	Free	Yes	~48h

Why you can't skip this step

Stores must legally tie each app to a verified person or company for liability, tax, and payout reasons. No third-party service can publish on your behalf without making you legally exposed.

Tip — start the accounts in parallel

Identity verification can take a day or two. Start your developer accounts the same day you start building, so they are approved by the time your .aab is ready.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a developer account to publish on Google Play?+

Yes. A Google Play Developer account costs 25 USD one-time and requires ID verification. Approval usually takes 24 to 48 hours.

How much does an Apple Developer account cost?+

99 USD per year for individuals or companies. Required for both the App Store and the Mac App Store.

What about the Microsoft Store?+

A Microsoft Partner Center account costs 19 USD one-time for individuals or 99 USD for companies.

Are Amazon and Samsung accounts free?+

Amazon Developer is free. Samsung Seller Portal is also free. Both are great low-friction options to add to your release plan.

Can SaaSToStore publish under its own account?+

No. We deliver the signed artifact (.aab, .apk, MSIX, .app). You own the developer accounts and the listings — which is essential for ownership and revenue collection.

Ready to publish your app?

Paste your URL. We build the signed Android App Bundle. You upload to the Play Store.

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