Apple announces iOS 26.5 changes for Brazil that let iPhone developers distribute apps through authorized alternative app marketplaces and offer third-party payment options outside Apple’s In-App Purchase system. The changes follow an agreement with Brazil’s competition regulator, CADE, which requires Apple to expand beyond the App Store’s existing distribution and payment rules. Apple says the update applies starting with iOS 26.5 and later.
Under the framework, alternative marketplace operators must be authorized by Apple and meet ongoing requirements. Apps distributed through these marketplaces must also undergo an app “notarisation” review, which Apple describes as combining automated checks with human oversight to identify malware and other security threats. Apple also introduces restrictions intended to mitigate risks for minors, including limitations on certain external links and alternative payment options for users under 18.
The new fee and commission structure varies depending on how apps are distributed and how payments are processed, with Apple continuing to take commissions on some transactions. Epic Games and the Coalition for App Fairness criticize the terms, saying the reporting requirements and fees still make it harder for competition to develop in the mobile app ecosystem.
