The Google App store is in developer preview, and it looks like the store will supersede the Chrome browser themes and extensions galleries, opening the way for two-tiered browser extensions similar to Google’s putative two-tiered internet.
Google Launches Chrome’s ‘App Store For The Web’ In Developer Preview
There’s also a one-time fee of $5, which is meant to help cut back on fraudulent activity. And yes, you can sell apps for free.
To use Chrome Web Store Payments, you must open a merchant account for Google Checkout, and you must associate that account with the store. When someone buys your app using Chrome Web Store Payments, Google charges you a processing fee of 5% + $0.30 per transaction; there are no other transaction costs. The minimum price you can charge with Chrome Web Store Payments is $1.99.
Also interesting: the web store will completely replace Chrome’s themes and extensions galleries when it launches, and it will allow developers to distribute and sell themes and extensions (in addition to the aforementioned apps).