Apple announced on June 18 that, under an agreement with Brazil’s antitrust regulator (CADE), it will open two previously restricted capabilities to iOS developers in Brazil: distributing iOS apps through Apple-authorized third-party app marketplaces, and offering alternative payment methods or redirecting to external websites for purchases within App Store apps. These features take effect immediately with iOS 26.5, and developers can access them through the Apple Developer support page. In terms of fees, the App Store commission for most developers drops from 30% to 10% (for the Small Business Program, subscriptions from the second year onward, etc.), or 21%; transactions linked to websites from within an App Store app are subject to an additional 15% platform service commission (with a 10% discount for small developers, etc.); apps distributed through third-party marketplaces are subject to a 5% core technology fee. Apple stated that these new options introduce risks of malware, fraud, and privacy violations, so it will implement a baseline review called “Notarization” for all iOS apps, although this process is not as strict as App Store review.
On child protection, Apple said that Kids category apps cannot add external website payment links within the App Store; purchases by users under 18 using alternative payments require parental approval; Apple will also provide a new API for third-party payment developers so parents can monitor and approve purchases made outside the App Store. In its announcement, Apple repeatedly cited examples of pornographic apps appearing in the EU and Japan after those markets opened to sideloading, warning Brazilian users about the new risks—continuing its consistent narrative around DMA compliance: expressing reservations about regulatory requirements on security grounds while implementing compliance obligations in phases. This marks the first time Brazil’s CADE has pushed Apple to make such concessions, following the EU, signaling that regulatory pressure demanding an open iOS ecosystem has spread from Europe to Latin America.