Apple to Permit Alternative iOS App Stores in Brazil
Earlier this month, iHelpBR announced that iOS 26.5 RC has established support for app sideloading in Brazil, following a resolution with CADE, the country’s competition regulator, concerning the App Store’s policies. Brazilian users can now discover a new “App Installation” feature under Settings > Apps, which allows them to control their default applications, including choosing preferred apps for different functions.
At present, the App Installation option only shows the App Store. Apple’s description indicates that the default marketplace will be utilized for recommendations in Spotlight, Siri, Safari, and more. If additional marketplaces are incorporated, users can modify their default selection. Although the timeline for when Apple will initiate alternative app distribution in Brazil remains uncertain, the new setting suggests that implementation is on the horizon.
CADE’s stipulations explicitly require Apple to permit app distribution via alternative stores, and the newly introduced App Installation menu clarifies the consequences of selecting a marketplace other than the App Store. This implies a marketplace-oriented model rather than the Web Distribution option provided under the EU’s DMA reforms.
Apple’s alternative app store conditions in Brazil involve new fees. As per the agreement with CADE, Apple is entitled to levy a 25% App Store commission or 10% for developers in special programs, in addition to a further 5% fee for utilizing Apple’s in-app purchasing system. Apps distributed through the App Store can guide users to external payment methods without a charge for static text, but a 15% commission applies for active links or buttons. For applications from alternative app stores, Apple may enforce a 5% Core Technology Commission.
While Apple has yet to officially verify these terms, the support in iOS 26.5 suggests that the rollout is imminent.