Apple Opens iOS to Rival App Stores in Brazil: Full Guide to Distribution, Fees, and Safety

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, Apple began allowing iOS developers in Brazil to distribute apps through alternative app marketplaces and process payments outside its system, following a December 2025 settlement with Brazil's antitrust regulator CADE . The changes apply on iOS 26.5 and later . This marks Brazil as the third major jurisdiction — after the European Union and South Korea — to force Apple to loosen its grip on app distribution and monetization .

Distribution and Payment Options

Developers in Brazil now have significant new flexibility in how they distribute their apps and process payments.

App distribution:

• Developers can distribute iOS apps through Apple's App Store, one or more alternative app marketplaces, or both .
• Alternative marketplaces are apps whose primary purpose is discovery and distribution of notarized iOS apps; they must be authorized by Apple and meet ongoing requirements .
• Direct sideloading from the web is not allowed — apps outside the App Store must go through an authorized alternative marketplace .

Payment options for digital goods and services:

• Apple In-App Purchase (IAP) — no changes required .
• In-app third-party payment processor — developers can integrate an alternative payment provider directly into the app, but must also offer Apple IAP as a simultaneous option .
• Out-of-app (steering) — developers can direct users to a website to complete a purchase, using an actionable link .
• Where an alternative payment option is used, Apple requires in-app disclosure sheets and compliance with child safety guidelines .

Apple's developer documentation confirms that purchase history and subscription management will remain within Apple's ecosystem for apps still distributed through the App Store .

Commission Fee Structures

Apple applies different fees depending on the distribution and payment channel :

Scenario	Commission / Fee
App Store standard IAP (paid apps, digital goods/services)	25% (reduced from 30%)
App Store IAP — Small Business Program or qualifying auto-renewing subscriptions	12% (after first year)
App Store with alternative payment processor in-app	21% commission on digital goods/services
App Store with Small Business Program + alternative payment processor	10%
App Store with external link/steering to website	15% fee on transactions
Distributing via alternative app marketplace (not on App Store)	Core Technology Commission (CTC) applies; Apple IAP is not available in this channel

Note: The exact CTC rate for Brazil was reported by some outlets as 5% per transaction, while the official Apple developer documentation confirms that a "Core Technology Commission" applies but does not explicitly state the percentage in the available sources . The rates above for App Store scenarios are drawn from Apple's developer documentation and confirmed by major Apple-focused news outlets . Early reporting from 9to5Mac in May 2026 suggested a 5% CTC for Brazil , but this has not been confirmed by Apple's official support page at the time of publication.

Safety Measures

Apple has implemented several protections under the CADE settlement to maintain user safety despite the opening of the ecosystem :

• Notarization — all iOS apps distributed through any channel (including alternative marketplaces) must pass Apple's baseline notarization review, combining automated checks and human review for malware and misrepresentation .
• Marketplace authorization — alternative app marketplaces must be authorized by Apple and meet ongoing requirements .
• Age ratings and parental controls — apps distributed outside the App Store must still carry age ratings; parental controls like Screen Time (download approval, content restrictions) apply regardless of distribution source .
• Kids category restrictions — apps in the Kids category on the App Store are not permitted to include external purchase links, to reduce fraud and scam risks targeting children .
• Under-18 safeguards — for users under 18, all apps from the App Store that include alternative payment links or third-party payment processing are subject to additional restrictions .
• Disclosure sheets — apps using alternative payment options must implement in-app disclosure sheets .

Regulatory Background: CADE Investigation and Settlement

The changes are the result of a three-year antitrust battle between Apple and Brazil's competition authority .

• Origin — the investigation began in 2022 after Latin American e-commerce company Mercado Libre filed a complaint with CADE alleging anticompetitive App Store rules .
• Interim measures — in 2025, CADE's General Superintendence imposed interim measures requiring Apple to suspend restrictions on third-party app distribution and alternative payment processing; Apple appealed but CADE's tribunal upheld the measures .
• Settlement (TCC) — on December 23, 2025, CADE approved a "Termo de Compromisso de Cessação" (Cease and Desist Agreement) with Apple, resolving the three-year dispute . The settlement required Apple to allow third-party app stores, sideloading, alternative in-app payment systems, and external links.
• Implementation deadline — Apple had 105 days (by roughly April 2026) to implement the changes, with the final rollout arriving on June 18, 2026 with iOS 26.5 .
• Penalties for noncompliance — up to R$5 million per breach of a principal obligation, and up to R$150 million for total breach of the agreement, with reinstatement of the administrative proceeding .
• Compliance reporting — Apple must file semi-annual compliance reports to CADE's General Superintendence .

The settlement is valid for three years and has been described as mirroring elements of the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), while incorporating Brazil-specific adaptations .