rent vs buy

Not legitimately. Google has no feature to sell or transfer ownership of a developer account. A “sale” is really handing over the login to a personal Google identity — which you can never truly own. Why renting always wins.

Because there's no clean way to do it. Selling means sharing a full Google login — Gmail, Photos, Contacts and more. Even deleted data can be recovered, and the original owner can reclaim the account at any time, taking your apps with them.

Renting, by a wide margin. It needs no identity handover, it's reversible, and it can be put in a contract. Buying is an irreversible leap of faith built on someone else's personal Google account. Always rent, never buy.

No. Google's account-recovery and data-retention systems mean traces can be recovered after deletion. Selling exposes your private life to a stranger and never fully transfers control. Rent it out instead.

Short-term yes, long-term no. A new account is a one-time $25 plus verification and the testing wait. Over time, your own verified account is cheaper and fully yours — treat renting as a bridge, not a permanent home.