Apple Allows Alternative iOS Marketplaces in Brazil

*Developers in Brazil can now ship apps outside the App Store and route payments through third parties, subject to Apple authorization and ongoing fees.*

Apple today opened iOS app distribution in Brazil to approved third-party marketplaces and external payment processors. The move lets developers bypass the App Store while still requiring marketplace operators to meet Apple’s technical and security standards.

Prior to the change, every iOS app in Brazil had to reach users through Apple’s store and its in-app purchase system. The new rules take effect immediately. Marketplaces must receive Apple authorization and continue to satisfy requirements set by the company. Developers who keep their apps in the App Store may add links to outside payment options or embed an alternative processor inside the app.

Apple will still collect fees on transactions that originate from its store. The company has published a dedicated developer page that spells out the updated terms for Brazil. It also stated that the policy shift brings added privacy and security risks for users.

No developer or competitor statements appear in the initial announcements. Apple framed the adjustments as compliance steps that preserve certain controls rather than a voluntary expansion of choice.

The changes reduce Apple’s gatekeeper position inside one major market without removing its ability to set technical rules or collect revenue. Developers gain negotiating leverage on fees and distribution, while users inherit the trade-offs Apple has already flagged. Marketplaces that clear Apple’s bar will test whether the added options produce measurable price differences or simply duplicate existing channels under new names.

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Sources:

• 9to5Mac
• MacRumors

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