iOS app stores in Brazil are about to work differently. Apple is opening the country to alternative app marketplaces and outside payment options. That makes Brazil the latest major market where the App Store is no longer the only official path for iPhone software distribution.
In a June 18 Newsroom update, Apple said the Brazil changes reflect its agreement with CADE, the country’s competition regulator. Starting with iOS 26.5, developers with apps in Brazil can use authorized alternative app marketplaces. They can also operate alternative marketplaces and offer payment processing outside Apple In-App Purchase.
This is not a total free-for-all. Apple says alternative marketplaces still need authorization. Apps distributed outside the App Store will also go through Notarization. That review is meant to catch basic functionality issues and known security threats. Apple still warns that it is less comprehensive than full App Review.
Brazil gets a familiar App Store compromise
The new Brazil model looks a lot like Apple’s playbook in the European Union. There, the Digital Markets Act forced the company to support third-party marketplaces while keeping a layer of platform control. Apple is using the same argument in Brazil: more developer choice, but more risk around malware, scams, fraud, privacy, and payments.
The business terms are also central. Apple says App Store commissions in Brazil will be 10 percent for many smaller or program-qualified developers. The same rate applies to subscriptions after the first year. Other digital goods and services transactions can carry a 21 percent commission. If developers use Apple In-App Purchase, a separate 5 percent payment processing fee applies. Apps distributed outside the App Store face a 5 percent Core Technology Commission on paid apps and digital goods or services.
For App Store apps that send users to the web to complete a transaction, Apple lists a store services commission of 15 percent. Qualifying developers and post-first-year subscriptions can fall to 10 percent. Apple also says those purchases will not appear in its purchase history or subscription tools. Apple will not handle refunds for transactions processed elsewhere.
CADE’s agreement pushed the door open
The regulatory pressure dates back to a CADE investigation into Apple’s iOS app distribution and payment rules. In its January notice, CADE said the agreement requires Apple to allow alternative app distribution channels. It also requires Apple to separate its payment processing from in-app transactions. The regulator said noncompliance could carry a fine of up to BRL 150 million.
Apple’s developer support page now lays out the operational pieces. They include App Store payment options, alternative marketplace distribution, marketplace operation, Notarization, child safety rules, and updated developer terms. Current Apple Developer Program members must agree to the latest license agreement by July 6, 2026.
For Brazilian iPhone users, the change could eventually mean more app stores and more ways to pay. For developers, it adds another regional rulebook to track. Apple is now managing different App Store models across Europe, Japan, Brazil, and other pressure points. Tech My Money has already covered how regulatory pressure is shaping Apple’s software roadmap, including Apple’s Siri AI delay in the EU.
The short version: Brazil is not simply getting sideloading without guardrails. It is getting Apple’s regulator-shaped compromise. That means alternative marketplaces, outside payments, Notarization, new fees, and plenty of warnings about what happens when the App Store is no longer the only gate.
