Apple Opens Up iPhone App Rules in Brazil
Apple, the company behind the iPhone, has agreed to big changes in how apps work on its phones in Brazil. This comes after a deal with the country’s government watchdog to end a long fight over competition rules.
For years, Apple has controlled everything about apps on iPhones. People could only download apps from Apple’s own App Store. Developers – the people who make apps – had to use Apple’s payment system for things like subscriptions or in-app buys. Apple took a cut of up to 30% from those sales. Many said this was not fair because it gave Apple too much power and hurt competition.
The problem started in 2022 when MercadoLibre, a big online shopping company in Latin America, complained to Brazil’s antitrust regulator called CADE. They said Apple’s rules stopped fair business and made it hard for other companies to grow.
After three years of investigation, Apple and CADE reached an agreement on December 23, 2025. To settle the case, Apple promised to make these changes in Brazil:
– Allow third-party app stores. This means iPhone users in Brazil will soon be able to download and use other app stores, not just Apple’s.
– Let developers use different payment options. Apps can now link to outside websites for payments or even offer other payment methods right inside the app, next to Apple’s option.
– Apple can still charge some fees, but they will be lower in certain cases.
Apple has about 105 days – until early April 2026 – to make these updates. If they don’t, they could face a big fine of up to $27 million.
Apple says these changes might bring new risks to user privacy and security, like more chances for bad apps or scams. But they promise to keep some protections in place, especially for kids.
On the other side, some people like MercadoLibre say the deal is a good step but does not fix everything. They want even more fair rules.
This is not the first time Apple has had to change its rules. Similar laws forced openings in Europe, Japan, and South Korea. Now Brazil joins the list, and it could encourage other countries to do the same.
For everyday iPhone users in Brazil, this means more choices soon. You might find cheaper apps, different stores, or better deals. But experts advise being careful when trying new app sources to stay safe.
This deal shows how governments around the world are pushing big tech companies to play more fairly and give users and developers more freedom.