Apple Allows Alternative App Marketplaces on iOS in Brazil

*Developers in Brazil can now distribute iPhone apps outside the App Store and accept payments through third-party systems, subject to Apple's authorization and fees.*

Apple today opened iOS app distribution in Brazil to approved third-party marketplaces. The move also lets developers who stay on the App Store add external payment links or alternative processors inside their apps. These shifts follow the pattern Apple has adopted in other regions facing regulatory pressure on its store policies.

The changes apply starting today. Alternative marketplaces must receive Apple authorization and continue to meet the company's ongoing requirements. Developers remain responsible for fees tied to the new channels. Apple published a dedicated developer page that spells out the exact rules for Brazil.

For apps still sold through the App Store, Apple now permits an in-app link to an external site for payment or the inclusion of a third-party payment processor. The company states that these options introduce privacy and security risks for users. It has not detailed the size of the fees that will apply to transactions completed outside its own system.

Scope of the Update

The announcement covers both distribution and payments. Marketplaces gain the ability to host iOS apps directly. Users in Brazil will therefore see storefronts that Apple neither operates nor fully controls. Developers who choose these routes avoid Apple's standard in-app purchase flow but must still satisfy the authorization process.

Apple has not released figures on how many marketplaces have applied or how many developers plan to switch. The policy language makes clear that the company retains the right to revoke marketplace approval if requirements are not met.

Payment Flexibility Inside the App Store

Apps that continue to use Apple's storefront can now surface an alternative payment option. This can take the form of a button that opens a web page or an integrated third-party processor. Apple has not specified the exact commission structure that will apply when payments leave its system.

The company continues to require that any alternative method still respect its review guidelines for the app itself. The new page for Brazilian developers lists the technical steps required to implement the external links.

Apple's Position on Risk

Apple explicitly notes that the changes bring privacy and security risks. It does not elaborate on specific threats or mitigation steps beyond the authorization process for marketplaces. Developers and users in Brazil will operate under these conditions starting immediately.

Why it matters

The Brazilian policy gives developers a concrete path around Apple's payment monopoly while preserving the company's gatekeeper role through authorization and fees. For teams that sell digital goods or subscriptions, the ability to route payments elsewhere can reduce costs, yet the requirement to obtain Apple's approval for any new marketplace limits how far that independence extends. Users gain more storefront choices on paper, but they inherit whatever security posture each authorized marketplace maintains. The result is a narrower version of the sideloading model already operating in Europe, with Apple still positioned to collect revenue and set baseline rules. Over time, the practical effect will depend on how many marketplaces secure authorization and whether developers find the fee structure attractive enough to migrate.

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Sources:

• 9to5Mac
• MacRumors

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