We monitor 217 Google Play storefronts to answer one question —

Is Verizon Messages censored by Google?

Gone.

Verizon Messages is gone from every Google Play storefront we test. It was last seen available on Sep 16, 2024.

1,191 tests on record·last checked 6 hours ago

Why it is unavailable

Five things can put an app out of one Google Play. Each is weighed below against what can be seen from outside — open a card for the reasoning.

  • A government or a court demanded itPossible

    and Google complied. Google publishes a count of these per country each year and never says which apps they were. Google’s Transparency Report

  • A local rule about paying for itPossible

    gambling licences, financial rules, tax — the kind of law that governs a transaction. Google can obey every one of them by refusing the payment, which is why this is the only restriction we would accept and the only one that cannot touch a free app.

  • Google applied a rule, unaskedPossible

    either its own review guidelines, or its own reading of a local law, with nobody having demanded anything. This is the largest category in Google’s own removal figures by a wide margin, and it covers distribution permits as well as content — Google kept a free Bible app out of mainland China in 2021 for want of one. Google’s Transparency Report

  • The developer withheld itPossible

    freely, or under legal advice of their own, or because Google’s guidelines require that kind of app to be limited to certain countries. Switching a country off is easy for a developer to do in Google’s own tools: it needs no new version of the app, and it leaves no public trace other than the app being unavailable.

  • Something brokeUnlikely

    a rejected update, a lapsed certificate, a payment or licensing problem, a mistake nobody has got round to noticing.

    • Gone for 2 years.
How this is weighed, and what it cannot tell you

Weighed from the evidence under each card, not from a model. There is no published figure for how Google’s removals divide up, so these are ordered words rather than percentages. For scale on the same-day counts: across the whole record an app leaves a storefront with fewer than two others, so a dozen at once is not a dozen coincidences.

None of this is certain, and a citation does not make it so: Google naming a Chinese agency tells you what Google said, not everything that happened. What can be said is that the readings alone cannot separate these five — a developer switching off a country and a government ordering it removed arrive at Google’s catalogue looking identical — and that nobody has ever measured how they divide across Google Play. The one careful study of the question was done on Google's store, using an error message Google does not emit.

Google publishes no record of which apps are unavailable in which countries. Its Transparency Report counts the removal requests governments send it, across its products together, and names no app in any of them — so even the part it does disclose cannot be matched to a single thing missing from your store. Where a reason reaches the public at all, it is usually because a developer chose to say so. Google’s Transparency Report

Know of a statement, notice or order we have missed? Tell us →

Verizon Messages

Developer: Verizon Consumer Group · Released: Feb 8, 2024 · Rating: 4.0★

View in Google Play ↗
0stores where available
185stores where blocked
6.62Bpeople behind the block
185of 217 stores tested
1,191tests on record

Life of this app

  1. Feb 8, 2024Released on Google Play
  2. Sep 16, 2024Last seen available anywhere
  3. Mar 11, 2025Gone from 185 storefronts
  4. Jul 24, 2025First tested by GooglePlayCensorship
  5. Sep 28, 2026Most recent test

Testing history

One column per month, every month from the first reading to the last. Height follows how many readings we took that month; red is the share of them that found the app unavailable. An empty month is one nobody tested.

2024-022026-09

Found availableFound unavailable

Availability by storefront

Every storefront we test, current status first. Data is a measurement, not a promise: each row carries its own date.

Test now
AfghanistanAF↗UnavailableJun 27, 202515 months ago
AlbaniaAL↗UnavailableMar 17, 202514 months ago
AndorraAD↗UnavailableJul 24, 202514 months ago
AngolaAO↗UnavailableOct 3, 202512 months ago
AnguillaAI↗UnavailableJan 24, 202513 months ago
Antigua & BarbudaAG↗UnavailableJan 4, 202516 months ago
ArgentinaAR↗UnavailableMar 31, 20255 days ago
ArmeniaAM↗UnavailableApr 19, 202514 months ago
ArubaAW↗UnavailableJan 2, 202513 months ago
AustriaAT↗UnavailableMar 16, 202514 months ago
AzerbaijanAZ↗UnavailableAug 9, 202514 months ago
BahamasBS↗UnavailableJan 16, 202514 months ago
BahrainBH↗UnavailableMar 16, 202514 months ago
BangladeshBD↗UnavailableApr 12, 202514 months ago
BelarusBY↗UnavailableDec 23, 202415 months ago
BelgiumBE↗UnavailableDec 26, 202410 months ago
BelizeBZ↗UnavailableApr 21, 202515 months ago
BeninBJ↗UnavailableMar 19, 202510 months ago
BermudaBM↗UnavailableMay 8, 20257 months ago
BhutanBT↗UnavailableFeb 19, 202513 months ago
BoliviaBO↗UnavailableFeb 21, 202512 months ago
BrazilBR↗UnavailableJan 9, 20256 hours ago
British Virgin IslandsVG↗UnavailableFeb 22, 202515 months ago
BruneiBN↗UnavailableMay 20, 20258 days ago
Burkina FasoBF↗UnavailableAug 11, 202514 months ago
BurundiBI↗UnavailableAug 1, 202514 months ago
CameroonCM↗UnavailableApr 20, 202512 months ago
CanadaCA↗UnavailableMar 29, 20257 months ago
Cape VerdeCV↗UnavailableDec 27, 202414 months ago
Caribbean NetherlandsBQ↗UnavailableSep 1, 202416 months ago
Cayman IslandsKY↗UnavailableJan 7, 202510 months ago
Central African RepublicCF↗UnavailableOct 3, 202510 months ago
ChadTD↗UnavailableDec 20, 202414 months ago
ChileCL↗UnavailableMar 26, 20257 months ago
China (Mainland)CN↗UnavailableApr 26, 20246 hours ago
Christmas IslandCX↗UnavailableJan 28, 202514 months ago
Cocos (Keeling) IslandsCC↗UnavailableJan 6, 202515 months ago
ComorosKM↗UnavailableDec 31, 20248 months ago
Cook IslandsCK↗UnavailableDec 22, 202410 months ago
Costa RicaCR↗UnavailableDec 30, 202412 months ago
Côte d’IvoireCI↗UnavailableDec 20, 202415 months ago
CroatiaHR↗UnavailableJan 2, 20259 months ago
CuraçaoCW↗UnavailableMar 8, 20252 days ago
CzechiaCZ↗UnavailableFeb 7, 202514 months ago
DenmarkDK↗UnavailableDec 25, 202415 months ago
DjiboutiDJ↗UnavailableFeb 21, 202514 months ago
DominicaDM↗UnavailableApr 15, 202514 months ago
Dominican RepublicDO↗UnavailableMar 7, 202510 months ago
DR CongoCD↗UnavailableMar 18, 202512 months ago
EcuadorEC↗UnavailableJan 25, 202515 months ago
El SalvadorSV↗UnavailableAug 21, 202512 months ago
Equatorial GuineaGQ↗UnavailableMay 3, 202515 months ago
EritreaER↗UnavailableMar 24, 202513 months ago
EstoniaEE↗UnavailableJan 27, 20255 days ago
EswatiniSZ↗UnavailableDec 29, 202414 months ago
EthiopiaET↗UnavailableDec 23, 202414 months ago
Falkland IslandsFK↗UnavailableJan 16, 202514 months ago
FijiFJ↗UnavailableMar 11, 202513 months ago
FinlandFI↗UnavailableSep 27, 202635 hours ago
GabonGA↗UnavailableFeb 4, 202514 months ago
GambiaGM↗UnavailableDec 26, 202410 months ago
GermanyDE↗UnavailableJul 7, 202515 months ago
GhanaGH↗UnavailableSep 23, 20265 days ago
GibraltarGI↗UnavailableDec 25, 20247 months ago
GreeceGR↗UnavailableJan 26, 20255 days ago
GrenadaGD↗UnavailableMay 18, 202514 months ago
GuatemalaGT↗UnavailableJun 14, 202515 months ago
GuernseyGG↗UnavailableJun 19, 20258 days ago
Guinea-BissauGW↗UnavailableApr 30, 202510 months ago
GuyanaGY↗UnavailableMay 8, 202510 months ago
HaitiHT↗UnavailableDec 27, 202416 months ago
HondurasHN↗UnavailableMar 11, 202514 months ago
Hong KongHK↗UnavailableApr 30, 202510 months ago
IcelandIS↗UnavailableJan 27, 20255 days ago
IndiaIN↗UnavailableDec 12, 20258 days ago
IranIR↗UnavailableMay 31, 202515 months ago
IraqIQ↗UnavailableSep 1, 202414 months ago
IrelandIE↗UnavailableMar 16, 202515 months ago
Isle of ManIM↗UnavailableJul 11, 202515 months ago
IsraelIL↗UnavailableDec 30, 202414 months ago
ItalyIT↗UnavailableMar 18, 202514 months ago
JamaicaJM↗UnavailableJun 4, 202515 months ago
JerseyJE↗UnavailableJan 25, 20258 days ago
JordanJO↗UnavailableDec 27, 20247 months ago
KazakhstanKZ↗UnavailableMay 24, 202516 months ago
KiribatiKI↗UnavailableJul 28, 202514 months ago
KosovoXK↗UnavailableFeb 21, 202515 months ago
KuwaitKW↗UnavailableJan 6, 202516 months ago
KyrgyzstanKG↗UnavailableJan 18, 202513 months ago
LaosLA↗UnavailableMay 29, 202516 months ago
LebanonLB↗UnavailableMay 30, 202513 months ago
LesothoLS↗UnavailableDec 25, 20249 months ago
LiberiaLR↗UnavailableJan 28, 202512 months ago
LibyaLY↗UnavailableJun 6, 202516 months ago
LiechtensteinLI↗UnavailableDec 18, 202435 hours ago
LithuaniaLT↗UnavailableFeb 22, 202514 months ago
LuxembourgLU↗UnavailableJul 11, 20252 days ago
MacaoMO↗UnavailableJul 8, 20258 months ago
MadagascarMG↗UnavailableJul 6, 20255 days ago
MalawiMW↗UnavailableJul 26, 202514 months ago
MalaysiaMY↗UnavailableSep 29, 202512 months ago
MaldivesMV↗UnavailableAug 19, 202513 months ago
MaliML↗UnavailableDec 21, 202415 months ago
MaltaMT↗UnavailableFeb 17, 202515 months ago
MauritaniaMR↗UnavailableApr 26, 202410 months ago
MauritiusMU↗UnavailableDec 31, 202415 months ago
MexicoMX↗UnavailableJan 30, 20256 hours ago
MicronesiaFM↗UnavailableJul 5, 202515 months ago
MoldovaMD↗UnavailableFeb 17, 202514 months ago
MonacoMC↗UnavailableJan 7, 202516 months ago
MongoliaMN↗UnavailableDec 31, 202412 months ago
MontenegroME↗UnavailableMar 19, 202514 months ago
MontserratMS↗UnavailableMar 24, 202516 months ago
MoroccoMA↗UnavailableDec 27, 202414 months ago
Myanmar (Burma)MM↗UnavailableJan 4, 202512 months ago
NepalNP↗UnavailableDec 9, 202510 months ago
NetherlandsNL↗UnavailableMar 8, 202512 months ago
New ZealandNZ↗UnavailableMay 6, 202514 months ago
NicaraguaNI↗UnavailableMar 13, 202513 months ago
NigerNE↗UnavailableOct 12, 202512 months ago
NigeriaNG↗UnavailableDec 22, 202412 months ago
NiueNU↗UnavailableApr 12, 202515 months ago
Norfolk IslandNF↗UnavailableMay 20, 202510 months ago
North MacedoniaMK↗UnavailableFeb 16, 20259 months ago
NorwayNO↗UnavailableJul 6, 20256 days ago
OmanOM↗UnavailableJan 25, 202515 months ago
PakistanPK↗UnavailableDec 31, 202415 months ago
Palestinian TerritoriesPS↗UnavailableMar 24, 202510 months ago
PanamaPA↗UnavailableMay 17, 202516 months ago
Papua New GuineaPG↗UnavailableApr 11, 202512 months ago
ParaguayPY↗UnavailableMar 12, 202514 months ago
PeruPE↗UnavailableMar 18, 202513 months ago
Pitcairn IslandsPN↗UnavailableMar 27, 202513 months ago
PolandPL↗UnavailableDec 22, 202410 months ago
PortugalPT↗UnavailableJul 16, 202514 months ago
QatarQA↗UnavailableMay 23, 20256 hours ago
Republic of the CongoCG↗UnavailableFeb 4, 202516 months ago
RomaniaRO↗UnavailableFeb 27, 202515 months ago
RwandaRW↗UnavailableMar 7, 202514 months ago
SamoaWS↗UnavailableJan 22, 202514 months ago
San MarinoSM↗UnavailableJan 25, 202512 months ago
São Tomé & PríncipeST↗UnavailableDec 18, 202412 months ago
Saudi ArabiaSA↗UnavailableMay 23, 20256 hours ago
SenegalSN↗UnavailableJun 4, 202516 months ago
SerbiaRS↗UnavailableDec 26, 202413 months ago
SeychellesSC↗UnavailableMay 28, 202516 months ago
Sierra LeoneSL↗UnavailableApr 11, 202512 months ago
SingaporeSG↗UnavailableDec 25, 202414 months ago
SlovakiaSK↗UnavailableDec 18, 20247 months ago
SloveniaSI↗UnavailableApr 19, 202514 months ago
SomaliaSO↗UnavailableFeb 27, 202510 months ago
South AfricaZA↗UnavailableMar 3, 202513 months ago
South KoreaKR↗UnavailableAug 30, 202513 months ago
Sri LankaLK↗UnavailableMay 8, 20258 months ago
St. HelenaSH↗UnavailableJan 11, 20269 months ago
St. Kitts & NevisKN↗UnavailableFeb 9, 202516 months ago
St. LuciaLC↗UnavailableApr 15, 202512 months ago
St. Vincent & GrenadinesVC↗UnavailableApr 15, 202512 months ago
SudanSD↗UnavailableMar 6, 202515 months ago
SurinameSR↗UnavailableMar 13, 202515 months ago
SwedenSE↗UnavailableApr 10, 202514 months ago
SwitzerlandCH↗UnavailableDec 31, 202414 months ago
TaiwanTW↗UnavailableJan 4, 202513 months ago
TajikistanTJ↗UnavailableMar 2, 20267 months ago
TanzaniaTZ↗UnavailableJan 16, 202510 months ago
ThailandTH↗UnavailableMay 20, 202513 months ago
Timor-LesteTL↗UnavailableDec 9, 20257 months ago
TogoTG↗UnavailableFeb 26, 202535 hours ago
TokelauTK↗UnavailableJan 28, 20258 days ago
Trinidad & TobagoTT↗UnavailableJan 27, 20258 months ago
TunisiaTN↗UnavailableAug 6, 202514 months ago
TürkiyeTR↗UnavailableFeb 9, 202515 months ago
TurkmenistanTM↗UnavailableMar 24, 202514 months ago
Turks & Caicos IslandsTC↗UnavailableJan 16, 202510 months ago
TuvaluTV↗UnavailableJan 4, 202512 months ago
UkraineUA↗UnavailableJan 18, 202512 months ago
United StatesUS↗UnavailableDec 18, 20246 hours ago
UruguayUY↗UnavailableAug 6, 202514 months ago
UzbekistanUZ↗UnavailableJul 16, 202514 months ago
VanuatuVU↗UnavailableJul 11, 202512 months ago
Vatican CityVA↗UnavailableFeb 19, 202515 months ago
VietnamVN↗UnavailableNov 30, 202510 months ago
Western SaharaEH↗UnavailableMar 14, 202510 months ago
YemenYE↗UnavailableDec 22, 202415 months ago
ZimbabweZW↗UnavailableDec 21, 202412 months ago
AlgeriaDZ↗Not tested——0
AustraliaAU↗Not tested——0
BarbadosBB↗Not tested——0
Bosnia & HerzegovinaBA↗Not tested——0
BotswanaBW↗Not tested——0
BulgariaBG↗Not tested——0
CambodiaKH↗Not tested——0
ColombiaCO↗Not tested——0
CubaCU↗Not tested——0
CyprusCY↗Not tested——0
EgyptEG↗Not tested——0
FranceFR↗Not tested——0
GeorgiaGE↗Not tested——0
GuineaGN↗Not tested——0
HungaryHU↗Not tested——0
IndonesiaID↗Not tested——0
JapanJP↗Not tested——0
KenyaKE↗Not tested——0
LatviaLV↗Not tested——0
MozambiqueMZ↗Not tested——0
NamibiaNA↗Not tested——0
NauruNR↗Not tested——0
PhilippinesPH↗Not tested——0
RussiaRU↗Not tested——0
Solomon IslandsSB↗Not tested——0
SpainES↗Not tested——0
TongaTO↗Not tested——0
UgandaUG↗Not tested——0
United Arab EmiratesAE↗Not tested——0
United KingdomGB↗Not tested——0
VenezuelaVE↗Not tested——0
ZambiaZM↗Not tested——0

Testing asks Google whether it will sell this app in that storefront, right now, by the same method the crawler has used since 2019. Your browser asks Google directly, so the answer describes what Google serves your connection — and if your browser cannot reach Google at all, we ask on your behalf and say so. The result is a link: open it to see Google’s own answer and check ours. Readings are added to the record above; roughly a quarter of the readings taken each day come from people testing.

How we test

Availability is checked against Google’s own catalog servers for every storefront, the same way Google Play app asks. "Unavailable" means Google’s servers say the app cannot be offered in that country — it does not say who asked for the removal. Removals initiated by the developer and removals demanded by governments look the same from outside; the history and context on this page are how we tell them apart.