Apple allows competitor app stores on iOS in Brazil.

      Apple is set to open iOS to different app marketplaces and third-party payment processing in Brazil, following an antitrust settlement with CADE in December 2025. These updates will take effect with iOS 26.5 and mimic the approach Apple introduced in the EU under the Digital Markets Act.

      On Wednesday, Apple announced modifications to iOS in Brazil that permit developers to distribute apps via alternative marketplaces, manage their own app stores, and handle payments for digital products outside of Apple's In-App Purchase system. This change is a result of an agreement with Brazil’s competition authority, CADE.

      Brazil now joins the EU, Japan, and South Korea as regions where Apple is required to allow third-party app distribution. The trend is becoming clearer: when regulators challenge Apple’s control of its ecosystem, the company complies but implements new fees and restrictions that can diminish the attractiveness of these alternatives.

      ### Changes Introduced

      Developers in Brazil who are part of the Apple Developer Program can now distribute apps through alternative marketplaces, which need to undergo an authorization process to operate. All apps released outside the App Store will still be subject to Apple’s Notarisation review, which includes both automated and human checks for malware.

      Additionally, developers are allowed to use their own payment systems for digital goods, bypassing Apple’s In-App Purchase framework. The new fee structure in Brazil sets the App Store commission at 25%, or 10% for developers in certain qualifying programs, plus an extra 5% fee if they utilize Apple's own payment processing.

      Users will not be able to sideload apps directly from the web; instead, apps available outside the App Store must be offered via a registered alternative marketplace. Apple's strategy mirrors its approach in the EU, where sideloading is similarly restricted to approved third-party stores.

      ### The CADE Settlement

      CADE ratified the settlement in December 2025, granting Apple 105 days to enact the new changes. The regulator had been examining Apple for potentially anti-competitive behavior related to App Store practices, particularly the mandate that developers employ Apple’s payment processing and the ban on redirecting users to other purchase options.

      Failure to comply could lead to fines of up to $27 million. All current Apple Developer Program members must accept a revised licensing agreement by July 6, 2026.

      ### A Global Trend

      Apple’s concessions in the EU under the Digital Markets Act largely serve as the model for Brazil’s settlement. The EU mandated that Apple permit third-party app stores and alternative payment processing, yet European regulators have identified ongoing violations by Apple, particularly in restricting developers from guiding consumers to more affordable purchasing methods.

      Experience in the EU indicates that opening up to alternative distribution is merely the initial phase. Developers have had mixed opinions on whether these changes will prove to be economically beneficial, as Apple’s new fee structures often make it unfeasible for smaller businesses to distribute outside the App Store.

      Apple has emphasized child safety measures in its Brazilian implementation, including content restrictions and fraud prevention strategies. The company is also providing 30-minute online consultations for developers with inquiries regarding these changes.

      The overarching question now is whether Brazil's regulators will enforce the settlement more stringently than their EU counterparts. While the case for alternative app stores is strong in theory, Apple's history suggests it will leverage all possible means to ensure that its App Store remains the most convenient option.