SAO PAULO, June 18 - Apple said on Thursday it will permit developers operating in Brazil to distribute iOS applications via alternative marketplaces and to handle payments outside Apple’s own system, following an agreement with the country’s antitrust regulator, CADE.
According to the company, the decision follows changes it agreed to make in December as part of a settlement of a dispute that had been opened in 2022. The adjustment applies to how apps are distributed and how transactions for digital goods and services are processed for users in Brazil.
For software made available through the App Store in Brazil, Apple said developers will be able to present alternative payment methods inside their apps and to direct users to external websites to complete purchases. "These updates create new options for developers to distribute apps on alternative app marketplaces and to process app payments for digital goods and services outside of Apple in‑app purchases," the company said.
Apple also outlined a set of protections it will implement alongside the new distribution and payment options. Those measures include app notarization, authorization requirements that marketplaces must meet, and specific safeguards designed to protect younger users from exposure to inappropriate content.
At the same time, Apple warned that allowing alternative marketplaces and payment systems could introduce heightened risks. The company singled out concerns such as malware, fraud, scams and threats to user privacy as potential downsides of opening its ecosystem in this way.
Developers in Brazil can begin using the newly available features on Thursday as part of iOS 26.5, Apple said.
Impacted sectors - Technology platforms, mobile payments and app developers in the consumer software ecosystem in Brazil will be directly affected by the changes. Payment processors and digital marketplace operators may also face shifts in distribution and transaction flows.
What remains fixed in the record - The company’s commitments stem from the December agreement resolving the 2022 dispute with CADE, and the technical rollout is tied to iOS 26.5. Apple has stated specific protective measures it will require and has publicly warned about attendant security and privacy risks.