SAO PAULO — Apple announced Thursday that developers in Brazil will now be permitted to distribute iOS apps through outside marketplaces and handle payment processing beyond Apple’s own platform, following a settlement reached with the country’s antitrust regulator, known as CADE.
The tech giant first agreed to implement these changes back in December, when it resolved a regulatory dispute that had originally been opened in 2022.
Under the new arrangement, developers selling apps through Brazil’s App Store will have the ability to offer customers alternative ways to pay within their apps, as well as the option to send users to external websites to complete purchases.
Apple described the significance of the update in a statement: “These updates create new options for developers to distribute apps on alternative app marketplaces and to process app payments for digital goods and services outside of Apple in-app purchases.”
The company said it plans to put several protective measures in place alongside these changes, including an app verification process called notarization, approval requirements for marketplace operators, and content safeguards aimed at shielding younger users from inappropriate material.
At the same time, Apple cautioned that opening up to third-party app stores and payment systems could expose users to greater risks, including malware, fraud, scams, and threats to personal privacy.
Developers were able to begin using the new capabilities on Thursday, rolled out as part of the iOS 26.5 update.
