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On March 12, 2020, Google made its redesigned Chrome Web Store Developer Dashboard the default and moved the existing $5 registration fee earlier in the publishing process: developers who had not previously published an item publicly had to pay before accessing the dashboard. Developers who had already published publicly did not have to pay again.
What changed in March 2020
The Chromium Blog announced two related changes to the Chrome Web Store publishing experience on March 12, 2020: a redesigned dashboard became the preferred experience, and developer registration payment moved earlier in the process. Google’s announcement said the Web Store charged a $5.00 developer registration fee.
The redesigned dashboard became the default
Developers entering through Web Store settings, an old bookmark or link, or the explicit dashboard address were directed to the new dashboard. At the time, developers could opt out and return to the old dashboard.
The 2020 announcement also listed features that were not then supported in the redesigned dashboard: transferring items; editing or publishing paid items or adding in-app purchases through Chrome Web Store Payments; viewing an item’s public key; reordering screenshots; previewing a new item version or promotional tiles; and viewing revenue statistics. Those were limitations reported in 2020, not a description of the dashboard’s current capabilities.
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The fee was due before dashboard access
Previously, a developer paid the registration fee only before publicly publishing an item. The 2020 change required payment before accessing the dashboard, so the fee came earlier—even for developers who were not yet ready to publish publicly.
Who had to pay under the 2020 change?
| Account or publishing history | What the 2020 announcement said |
|---|---|
| Had already published an item publicly | The developer had already paid and did not need to pay again. |
| New developer | Had to register and pay before using the Developer Dashboard. |
| Previously registered, but had never published publicly | Had to pay before dashboard access. This included developers whose only releases had been to a private domain or trusted testers; they needed to pay and complete the flow, even if it looked like new registration. |
The dividing line in the announcement was prior public publication, not simply whether an account existed or whether an item had been shared privately.
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How registration works now
The official developer registration guide, last updated February 13, 2024, describes a one-time fee before publishing. Its process starts in the Developer Dashboard, where a developer agrees to the developer agreement and policies and pays the fee.
The guide recommends using an email address that the publisher checks regularly, because important publishing notices go there. It also says the account email cannot be changed after account creation, so choosing the right address is an important setup decision.
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The agreement’s reviewed text requires a one-time registration fee for publishing but leaves the amount to Google’s discretion. The $5.00 figure is the amount stated in the 2020 announcement; it was also repeated in the April 28, 2026 update below. These published amounts do not establish that the agreement guarantees a fixed price indefinitely. See the Chrome Web Store Developer Agreement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Joining a publisher is different from creating one
A Chrome for Developers update dated April 28, 2026 describes expanded member roles and a direct invitation flow. An invited member can join an existing publisher without completing the full developer registration flow and at no additional cost.
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Creating a new publisher remains a separate action: the update says it requires a fully registered developer account, including a $5 registration fee. In practical terms, an invitation to collaborate on an existing publisher is not the same as setting up a new publisher account.
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