Apple Expands App Store Access as Brazil Opens Door to Rival App Marketplaces

Apple announced on Thursday that developers in Brazil will now be allowed to distribute iOS applications through alternative app marketplaces and offer payment options for digital goods and services outside the App Store.

The changes come as part of Apple’s agreement with Brazil’s competition authority, Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE), and represent another step toward easing the company’s long-standing App Store restrictions. Similar regulatory-driven changes have already been introduced in markets including the European Union and Japan.

The latest move further loosens Apple’s control over the iOS app ecosystem, which has increasingly come under pressure from regulators and legal challenges worldwide. In the United States, for instance, Apple now allows developers to direct users to external payment systems following the court ruling in its legal battle with Epic Games.

For Brazil, Apple said the updated framework includes several new security measures. These include a notarization process for iOS apps distributed outside the App Store, authorization requirements for alternative app marketplaces, and additional safeguards to protect users—particularly children—from scams, malicious software, and inappropriate content.

Apple has also revised Attachment 12 of its Apple Developer Program License Agreement to outline the updated terms for developers operating in Brazil. Under the new rules, developers will use the company’s Core Technology Commission (CTC) pricing structure. The 5% CTC commission replaced Apple’s previous Core Technology Fee (CTF) earlier this year as part of its revised business terms in the European Union and applies to apps distributed through the App Store, alternative marketplaces, and the web.

Developers in Brazil must accept the updated version of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement by July 6, 2026, to continue participating under the new terms, the company said.