Apple allows alternative app stores and payments in Brazil

Apple has opened its iOS platform in Brazil to third-party app marketplaces and alternative payment systems, marking a significant shift in its long-standing control over the iPhone app ecosystem. The changes, which took effect on June 18, 2026, for users running iOS 26.5 and later, are the result of a settlement with Brazil’s antitrust regulator, Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE).

The agreement resolves a three-year investigation that began after a complaint was filed by Latin American e-commerce company Mercado Libre. The regulator found Apple had engaged in anti-competitive conduct by prohibiting third-party sales of services and requiring exclusive use of its own payment system, creating artificial barriers for competitors.

Under the new rules, developers can build and distribute alternative app marketplaces using Apple’s MarketplaceKit framework, subject to Apple’s approval and ongoing requirements. Apps distributed outside the official App Store must still be offered through an authorized alternative marketplace; direct downloads from the web, or "sideloading," are not permitted. All iOS apps, regardless of distribution channel, will undergo a baseline...