Apple allows alternative app stores, payments in Brazil after deal with regulator
AAPL
Regulation, App Store, Antitrust
Negative
Apple has announced it will permit developers in Brazil to distribute iOS applications through third-party marketplaces and process payments outside its proprietary system, following a settlement with Brazil's antitrust authority, CADE. The agreement originated from a dispute opened in 2022 and was formally settled in December.
Under the terms of the arrangement, developers distributing apps via the App Store in Brazil will also be permitted to offer alternative payment methods within their apps and direct users to external websites to complete transactions — representing a meaningful shift in how Apple operates its platform in the Brazilian market.
Why it matters
The concessions mark a regulatory-driven erosion of Apple's tightly controlled App Store ecosystem and payment infrastructure in Brazil, which could reduce the commission revenue Apple earns from in-app transactions in the market. It also sets a precedent that other regulators globally may reference in similar disputes.
Key facts
Apple will allow alternative app marketplaces for iOS in Brazil • Developers may offer alternative payment methods and link to external payment sites • The settlement with Brazilian antitrust regulator CADE resolved a dispute opened in 2022 • The agreement was reached in December prior to this announcement