Apple has announced a series of changes to iOS and the App Store in Brazil following an agreement with the country’s competition regulator, CADE.
The changes, available as part of iOS 26.5, introduce new ways for developers to distribute apps and process payments outside of Apple’s ecosystem. Apple says it has also implemented a number of safeguards designed to reduce the privacy, security, and safety risks that could come with the new rules.
Under the changes, developers in Brazil will be able to distribute iPhone apps through alternative app marketplaces instead of exclusively through the App Store. Developers will also be allowed to use alternative payment systems for digital goods and services or direct users to external websites to complete purchases.
Apple says the App Store will remain the safest place for users to discover and download apps, noting that apps distributed outside the App Store will not go through the company’s full App Review process. To help reduce risks, all iOS apps distributed in Brazil will still be required to pass Apple’s Notarization process, which checks for malware, security threats, and basic functionality before apps can be installed.
The company says alternative app marketplaces will also require authorization from Apple and must meet ongoing requirements to continue operating on iOS.
For payments, developers will now be able to offer alternative payment methods alongside Apple’s own In-App Purchase system. Users who choose Apple’s payment platform will continue to receive benefits such as subscription management, refund support, purchase history, and access to the Report a Problem system.
Apple says purchases completed through third-party payment providers or external websites will not receive the same level of support, and users may be required to share payment information with additional companies.
The company has also updated its business terms for developers in Brazil. Apple says most developers will now pay a reduced App Store commission of 10%, while standard transactions for digital goods and services will be subject to a 21% commission. Developers using Apple In-App Purchase will pay an additional 5% payment processing fee.
For purchases completed through websites linked from App Store apps, Apple will charge a Store Services Commission of 15%, reduced to 10% for eligible developers and subscriptions after their first year. Apps distributed outside the App Store through alternative marketplaces will be subject to a 5% Core Technology Commission on sales of digital goods and services.
Apple says the new structure means developers selling digital goods and services in Brazil will pay the same amount or less than they do under the current system, while developers that do not sell digital goods and services will continue to pay no commissions or fees.
The company also highlighted concerns around online safety for younger users. Apple says apps distributed outside the App Store may expose children to content and services that would not normally be permitted under App Store guidelines.
To address those concerns, apps in the Kids category will not be allowed to link to external websites for purchases, while apps using alternative payment systems must include parental controls for users under the age of 18. Apple is also developing new tools that will allow parents to monitor and approve purchases made outside of its own payment system.
