Apple is opening iOS to alternative app marketplaces in Brazil today, resolving a settlement reached in late 2025 with Brazil’s competition regulator CADE. The regulator determined that Apple’s exclusive App Store enforcement artificially blocked competitors and preserved Apple’s dominant position in iOS-related markets.
The antitrust dispute originated in 2022 when MercadoLibre, Latin America’s largest e-commerce platform, filed a complaint over Apple’s App Store restrictions. CADE’s investigation concluded that Apple’s policies created artificial barriers to entry for rival app stores. Today’s changes implement that settlement agreement.
Brazilian iOS users running iOS 26.5 or later can set an alternative app marketplace as their default installation platform via Settings > Apps > Default Apps > App Installation. AltStore is already available as an alternative, and other marketplaces are expected to follow.
Developers now have three distinct paths for in-app purchases. They can use Apple’s in-app purchase system, integrate a third-party payment provider directly into the app, or direct users to an external payment provider on the web. The fee structure varies by method.
Apps distributed through the App Store with Apple’s in-app purchase system face a 5% payment processing fee plus a 21% App Store commission. That base rate drops to 10% for developers enrolled in Apple’s special programs, including the App Store Small Business Program, Video Partner Program, and Mini Apps Partner Program, as well as for subscription renewals after the first year.
Third-party app stores themselves are subject to a 5% Core Technology Commission. For developers directing users to external payment methods, fees depend on implementation. Static text with no clickable link incurs no fee. A clickable button or link to external payment triggers a 15% fee.
Developers have financial incentive to use external payment systems, though Apple retains a cut if the transaction flow is obvious to users. The commission structure mirrors the one Apple introduced in Japan in December 2025, suggesting this may become Apple’s template for regulatory compliance.
Apps distributed through alternative marketplaces must still carry age ratings and remain subject to parental controls such as Screen Time. Apple emphasizes that Brazil’s new rules offer stronger privacy and security protections for children than those required under the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
Apple argues the requirement for age ratings and parental control compatibility ensures child safety on third-party stores. Critics argue this framing downplays Apple’s financial interests in maintaining control over the ecosystem. Whether these protections genuinely address child safety or primarily serve to maintain Apple’s authority remains an open question.
The Brazil settlement joins a growing list of regions where regulatory pressure has forced Apple to modify its App Store model. Apple has already opened up iPhone to third-party app stores and payment options in Europe, and opened the door to dedicated game streaming apps on iPhone and iPad under similar pressure. Japan and South Korea have also won comparable concessions. Apple’s ability to introduce distinct fee structures and compliance requirements in each region suggests the company is fragmenting its approach rather than adopting a unified global standard.
