Amazon Underground
Amazon Underground was an Android app from Amazon that let people download games and apps for free and also get in-app items at no cost. It used the tagline “Actually Free” and was meant to stay as a permanent program, not a limited promo. Developers could join voluntarily and were paid based on how long users spent in their apps—$0.002 for every user minute.
Users could download Underground from Amazon’s site (not from Google Play) and then download all Underground apps inside the app. In-app purchases within those apps were also free for Underground users. Ads helped pay for the program, appearing when a user first downloaded an app and sometimes when the app was opened again.
Amazon Underground launched on August 26, 2015, and it replaced Amazon’s daily free app program. In March 2016, Amazon shared growth statistics, which drew more media coverage. In April 2017, Amazon announced it would stop accepting new apps on May 31, 2017, and that Underground would shut down completely in 2019.
Participation was voluntary for developers, who had to meet certain rules. Amazon advised against using Underground for some apps, such as modified versions that remove in-app purchases or remove ad-free premium features.
Some people criticized Underground for being smaller than Google Play and not very useful as a standalone store, but others noted that certain apps did well and that the program helped developers focus on creating engaging experiences while earning money based on usage.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:02 (CET).