Apple announced in June 2026 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, following an agreement with Brazil’s competition regulator, the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE).
The changes place Brazil alongside the EU and Japan as markets where Apple has revised its long-standing rules over iOS app distribution. In the U.S., Apple has separately been required to permit developers to direct users to external payment options following a court ruling in the Epic Games lawsuit.
Along with the expanded distribution options, Apple said it will introduce new protections in Brazil, including a notarization process for apps distributed outside the App Store, authorization requirements for alternative app marketplaces, and rules aimed at protecting children from inappropriate content and scams.
Apple also updated Attachment 12 of its Apple Developer Program License Agreement to outline terms specific to Brazil. Apps distributed there will be subject to a 5% Core Technology Commission (CTC) fee, which applies to apps distributed via the App Store, the web, and alternative marketplaces. The CTC fee replaced the earlier Core Technology Fee in January as part of Apple’s revised business terms in the EU.
Developers operating in Brazil will need to agree to the updated license agreement by July 6, 2026.
The move marks another instance of Apple adjusting its App Store rules in response to regulatory pressure, and may signal continued scrutiny of the company’s control over iOS app distribution in other markets.
Source: TechCrunch