TL;DR

Brazil's antitrust regulator approved a settlement requiring Apple to allow alternative app stores and third-party payment processing on iOS by April 2026. Until then, standard App Store rules remain in effect.

• External payment links will be subject to a 15% Apple fee (vs. 30% standard).

• In-app purchases through any third-party payment provider will be charged a 25% Apple fee.

• Purchases made on apps distributed through alternative marketplaces will only be charged a 5% Apple commission.

• Apple hasn't published official documentation yet.

Apple settled with Brazil

On December 23, 2025, Brazil's Administrative Council of Economic Defense (CADE) approved Apple's settlement agreement, resolving a three-year antitrust investigation that began with MercadoLibre's 2022 complaint. The settlement requires Apple to allow alternative app stores and third-party payment processing on iOS in Brazil within 105 days (by early April 2026), Until then, standard App Store rules remain in effect.

Important note: Apple has not yet published official developer documentation for these Brazil-specific changes. Apple typically releases updated policies and terms closer to enforcement deadlines. 

While the settlement opens new distribution and payment options, Apple's fee structure ensures the company retains substantial revenue from iOS transactions in Brazil. The economics vary, with Apple charging commissions ranging from 5% to 30% depending on how developers choose to distribute and monetize their apps. 

“Brazil is one of the most important gaming markets globally, and this ruling reflects a broader shift toward giving developers more control over how they monetize in high-growth regions,” says Mukul Chawla, Head of Payments at Neon. “Opening up alternative payment options isn’t just about fees, it’s about enabling payment experiences that actually work for Brazilian players. For game developers, the real value comes from pairing this new flexibility with localized, compliant, and high-conversion payment infrastructure.”

What will change

Apple has 105 days from December 23, 2025 to implement changes addressing three core areas. According to an official press release from CADE (machine-translated from Portuguese to English):

1. External payments: Apple must allow app developers to promote external offers, including directing users to make transactions outside the app.  

2. Third-Party Payment Processing: Apple must allow developers to offer alternative payment options within their apps. Alternative payment methods must be presented alongside Apple In-App Purchase, giving users a choice between payment systems.

3. Alternative App Distribution: Apple must allow third-party app marketplaces on iOS in Brazil. It’s currently unclear what requirements Apple will impose on alternative app distribution, beyond the fee mentioned below..

4. Neutral Messaging: Any Apple warning messages about alternative stores and payment methods will be “limited in scope, must use neutral and objective wording, and may not create control measures that hinder the user experience.” This provision directly addresses complaints that Apple's "scare screens" reduced user adoption of alternatives.

Developers should monitor Apple's official developer documentation for Brazil-specific implementation details, compliance and technical requirements needed to support alternative payment links, alternative payment options and alternative app distribution.

Associated Apple fees

Brazilian tech site Tecnoblog reports it obtained the upcoming App Store fee structure for Brazil directly from CADE (machine-translated from Portuguese to English):

In-app purchases on the App Store:

• 25% commission

• 5% fee if using Apple’s payment system

App purchases on the App Store, but redirected outside the store:

• No fee if the redirection involves static text (no clickable link or button)

• 15% fee if the app owner includes a button/link and directs users to payment on their own website (outside the app environment)

Alternative app stores:

• 5% Core Technology Commission

CADE's statement says, “The agreement also establishes the structure for the fees to be charged by Apple, aligned with the other commitments made, ensuring that the pro-competitive effects of the new terms are felt by app developers and users.” However, these fees shouldn’t be considered official until they’re published in Apple’s developer documentation. 

What this means for developers

The new payment and distribution options in Brazil are a move in the right direction, but some of the new opportunities are better than the rest. When factoring in third-party payment processing fees (typically 4-10%), most alternatives offer minimal cost savings, and in some cases higher costs, compared to Apple's standard 30% rate.

The immediate opportunity: Static text promotion

The most actionable change for developers is the ability to use static text (non-clickable) to promote alternative payment options at 0% Apple commission. While players can't tap directly to your webshop, you can build awareness at scale by including messaging like:

• "Get 20% more gems when you shop at [webshop URL]"

• "Exclusive free gift available only on our website at [webshop URL]"

• "Visit [webshop URL] for limited-time offers"

This costs nothing beyond third-party payment processing fees and gives you a clear way to educate your entire player base about your direct purchasing options. Developers should maximize this opportunity, when permitted, by prominently integrating static promotional messaging into their in-game experience.

Alternative app marketplaces: High potential, but uncertain

The 5% Core Technology Commission for apps distributed through third-party marketplaces represents a low-fee monetization option, assuming any alternative app marketplace offers low fees as well. However, this opportunity is only viable if credible alternative iOS app stores emerge in Brazil with distribution capabilities that rival the App Store. Until at least one third-party marketplace establishes itself with meaningful download volume and discovery mechanisms, this remains a promising but speculative opportunity for most developers.

Brazil’s mobile games market

Brazil ranked as the 11th-largest market for in-app purchases globally in 2024, generating $1.62 billion in revenue across the App Store and Google Play, according to SensorTower's "State of Mobile 2025" report.

SensorTower's "State of Gaming 2025" report shows Brazil's mobile game in-app purchase revenue reached $553.6 million in 2024 (App Store & Google Play), a 6% increase from 2023.

Fee table for accessibility:

Apple’s Proposed Fees in Brazil (effective April 2026)