Apple announced Thursday that developers in Brazil can now distribute iOS apps through alternative app stores and process payments for digital goods and services outside the App Store.
The changes, which are part of an agreement Apple signed with Brazil’s competition regulator Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE), follow similar revisions in the EU and Japan, easing Apple’s rules in yet another market.
The move marks another rift in Apple’s long-standing control over the iOS app ecosystem, which has been forced to become public by regulators and, in some cases, legal battles. For example, in the United States, Apple now allows developers to direct users to external payment options, following a court decision in the Epic Games lawsuit against the iPhone maker.
Apple said the updates for the Brazilian market will include the introduction of new protections, including a notarization process for iOS apps distributed outside the App Store, certification requirements for alternative app marketplaces, and other rules designed to protect children from inappropriate content and fraud.
Additionally, the company updated Attachment 12 of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement to specify terms for iOS apps in Brazil using the Core Technology Council (CTC) fee structure. This 5% CTC fee replaced the previous Core Technology Fee (CTF) in January as part of Apple’s revised terms of business in the EU. This applies to apps distributed through the App Store, web, and/or alternative marketplaces.
Apple said that in Brazil, developers will have until July 6, 2026 to agree to the latest updates to the licensing agreement.
