Apple Introduces Alternative App Distribution on iOS for Brazil
On June 18, 2026, Apple announced significant changes to iOS in Brazil, stemming from a formal agreement with the country's antitrust authority, CADE. Beginning with iOS 26.5, Brazilian users and developers will have access to alternative app marketplaces, new payment processing options, and a fundamentally different distribution landscape, a development with far-reaching implications for app businesses operating in or entering the Brazilian market.
In this article, REVERA explains why the introduction of alternative iOS app distribution in another major jurisdiction is important and how this new framework may affect app developers and businesses in general.
What happened and why does it matter?
Apple's App Store has historically been the sole gateway for distributing iOS applications worldwide, a model that has drawn sustained regulatory scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions. The European Union was the first major market to legally compel Apple to open iOS to alternative distribution channels through the Digital Markets Act (DMA), resulting in analogous changes introduced in the EU in early 2024. Brazil now follows a similar path, although through a different mechanism: a negotiated settlement with CADE rather than a legislative mandate.
The practical effect is largely the same as in the EU. As of iOS 26.5, developers with apps in Brazil may distribute those apps outside the App Store, operate their own app marketplaces, and process payments for digital goods and services through payment providers other than Apple's built-in In-App Purchase system.
New options for developers
1. Alternative App Distribution
Developers may now list their iOS apps on third-party marketplaces operating in Brazil, in addition to or instead of the App Store. To do so, they must register their apps in App Store Connect, provide their Developer ID to the chosen marketplace, and configure which apps are eligible for alternative distribution. Importantly, App Store features such as Apple In-App Purchase are not available when distributing through alternative channels, a point developers should factor into their product and commercial architecture.
2. Operating an Alternative App Marketplace
Companies may also apply to operate their own iOS app marketplace in Brazil. This requires prior authorization from Apple, based on specific eligibility criteria and ongoing compliance obligations. Authorized marketplace operators gain access to dedicated APIs enabling them to receive notarized apps from other developers, manage user downloads and installations, handle backup and restore functionality, and integrate with relevant iOS system features.
3. New Payment Options
Developers distributing on the App Store in Brazil now have access to alternative payment processing for digital goods and services. This means they may integrate third-party payment processors directly into their apps or direct users to external websites to complete purchases. However, Apple requires that wherever an alternative payment option is presented within an App Store app, Apple In-App Purchase must also be offered simultaneously.
Crucially, these alternatives come with revised commission structures. Apple will charge a 15% Store Services Commission, or 10% for small developers, on web-linked transactions, while traditional App Store distribution now carries a 21% base commission plus a 5% payment processing fee if Apple's IAP is used.
The Cost of Alternative Distribution
Moving outside the App Store does not mean operating free of charge. Apps distributed through third-party marketplaces in Brazil will be subject to a 5% Core Technology Commission (CTC) on the sale of digital goods and services, including paid app purchases. Furthermore, direct downloading from the web, commonly referred to as sideloading, remains restricted. Alternative distribution is strictly tied to authorized third-party marketplaces.
Other Key Provisions
Notarization
All apps distributed outside the App Store must pass Apple's Notarization, a baseline security and integrity check covering accuracy, functionality, security, and privacy. It is a lighter process than full App Store Review and does not enforce content or commerce policies. However, apps found to contain malware after installation can be remotely blocked.
Child safety requirements
Apps in the Kids category must gate alternative payment flows behind parental approval and may not offer out-of-app purchasing links. All other apps must support parental purchasing controls and obtain parental consent before offering alternative payment options to users under 18.
Agreement deadline
All current members of the Apple Developer Program must agree to the updated Apple Developer Program License Agreement by July 6, 2026. The agreement incorporates the new terms for Brazil-based distribution and payment options. The agreement must be accepted by the Account Holder of each developer membership. Failure to agree by the deadline may affect access to distribution tools and eligibility to use the new options.
REVERA Comments
Brazil's move mirrors, yet does not fully replicate, the EU's approach under the Digital Markets Act. In both cases, the outcome is a loosening of Apple's exclusive control over app distribution on iOS. The mechanism in Brazil is a negotiated regulatory settlement rather than legislation imposing hard obligations, which gives the arrangement a somewhat different legal character.
Apple has embedded its own conditions within this opening. Notarization, marketplace authorization, financial reporting obligations, and child safety requirements are all Apple-imposed requirements rather than direct regulatory obligations.
This pattern, where regulators compel Apple to open its ecosystem while Apple determines the framework governing that opening, is likely to be repeated in other markets where competition authorities are examining platform gatekeeper power. Developers and entrepreneurs active across multiple jurisdictions should anticipate that the landscape will continue evolving, with different rules applying on a market-by-market basis.
The REVERA team supports technology companies, app developers, digital platforms, content providers, and businesses engaged in app distribution in navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.
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