Apple officially announced sweeping changes to iOS in Brazil on June 18, 2026, following a binding agreement with the country’s competition regulator CADE — opening alternative app marketplaces, third-party payments, and revised commission structures for the first time in the market. The update, detailed in Apple’s Brazil newsroom announcement, ships as part of iOS 26.5 with a developer license deadline of July 6, 2026.
This is not a minor policy tweak. It is the same regulatory pattern already seen in the EU, Japan, and potentially the UK and Australia: antitrust pressure forces Apple to loosen App Store control, and the company complies while building its own countermeasures. For Brazilian users and developers, the practical impact is faster access to alternative distribution and payment paths, but with new fees, notarization requirements, and reduced Apple refund support for non-App Store transactions.
What developers can now do on iOS in Brazil
Developers can now choose between several distribution and payment paths, each with different costs and protections:
- App Store distribution remains available. Commissions drop to 10% for most developers in the Small Business Program, Video Partner Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, or subscriptions after the first year. Otherwise, the standard rate is 21%. An additional 5% fee applies when using Apple In-App Purchase, per Apple’s developer newsroom.
- Alternative app marketplaces are now permitted, but Apple must authorize them, and they must meet ongoing requirements. Apps outside the App Store bypass App Review but do not get the same privacy, security, or child-safety protections, as MacRumors’ coverage of the Brazil change notes.
- Alternative payment processing is allowed inside App Store apps and via web links. However, Apple will not issue refunds for these transactions, and users lose some fraud and scam protections. A 15% commission applies to web-linked transactions for digital goods, reduced to 10% for eligible developer programs.
- Core Technology Commission applies at 5% to digital goods and services sold outside the App Store, including paid apps. This replaces the older Core Technology Fee and covers tools and technologies Apple provides to developers.
New protections and guardrails
Apple frames these changes as balanced: developer choice expanded, but user safety preserved. The company introduced Notarization, a baseline review for all iOS apps distributed outside the App Store, combining automated checks with human review to catch malware and serious threats. Notarization is less comprehensive than full App Review, but it signals Apple is not leaving the ecosystem unguarded.
For younger users, Apple added explicit protections: apps in the Kids category cannot include web transaction links, and users under 18 must use a parental gate for alternative payments. Apple is also developing an API so parents can monitor and approve purchases made outside Apple In-App Purchase.
Why Brazil’s App Store shift matters
Brazil becomes the latest major market where Apple must share App Store control. The commission reductions and new distribution options will likely accelerate local developer experimentation, especially among smaller studios that previously faced the full 30% fee. However, the 5% Core Technology Commission and 15% web-link fee mean developers still pay Apple for access to iOS users, just through different mechanisms.
The July 6, 2026 deadline is the immediate action item. All Apple Developer Program members must agree to the updated license agreement by that date to use the new options, according to Apple’s developer announcement.
Bottom line: Apple’s CADE-driven Brazil update opens alternative app marketplaces and payment paths on iOS 26.5, cuts some commissions to 10–21%, adds a 5% Core Technology Commission for external distribution, and layers in Notarization plus under-18 purchase protections. Primary sources: Apple’s official Brazil newsroom announcement, Apple’s developer newsroom, and MacRumors’ reporting on the June 18 change.
