Looking for Free Items & Content? Google Launches App Promo Codes on Play Store

In what seems like the tech giant's long overdue response to the clamor of many Android users when it comes to the lack of Android apps promo codes in the Play Store, unlike in the case of iOS, Google has finally budged and is now allowing developers to dangle some incentives at their disposal.

Whether to reward their loyal patrons or attract new users and promote their apps, the developers now have the luxury to offer promo codes via the Google Play Developer Console.

"Promo codes let you [developer] give content or features away to a limited number of users free of charge," Google wrote on the Android developer website. "Once you create a promo code, you can distribute it subject to the terms of service. The user enters the promo code in your app or in the Play Store app, and gets the item at no cost. You can use promo codes in many ways to creatively engage with users."

Some of the special items that could come along with the promo codes are exclusive content like characters and decoration. These promo codes can be availed by attending events or at various local retail stores for those who will try out the apps. Developers can also hand out some of these promo codes to their employees to share with their friends and families.

App users can get a hold of the special items by unlocking them with the given code. All they have to do is enter the code in the Play Store or in their apps. "The user can enter the promo code as part of the app's ordinary purchase flow... The user can redeem the code in the Google Play Store app. Once the user enters the code, the Play Store prompts the user to open the app or to download or update it."

The new reward system in the Play Store does not come without any caveat, though. While the developers were now given the option to create promotions in the Google Play Developer Console, there is a limit to the number of paid app or in-app product they can give away for free.

According to PC Mag Asia, developers can't just give promo codes to users as many as they want. Google set the limit to 500 promo codes for every quarter and each code released in a particular quarter cannot be carried out to the next. Furthermore, these promo codes can only be used within a year but developers can also choose to create a different expiration date to their liking.