Apple has agreed to allow third-party app stores and alternative payment methods on its iOS operating system in Brazil, settling a three-year antitrust case with the country’s competition regulator, both sides said on Tuesday.
Brazil’s antitrust authority CADE said an internal panel formed a majority to accept Apple’s proposed settlement. Under the agreement, Apple will permit app distribution through stores other than its own App Store and allow developers to use third-party payment processors for in-app purchases or link users to external websites to complete transactions.
Apple said it will implement the changes to comply with CADE’s requirements, while warning that opening iOS to alternative app stores and payment systems could create privacy and security risks for users. The company said it has taken steps to mitigate threats but acknowledged that “these safeguards will not eliminate every risk.”
The investigation began in 2022 following a complaint by MercadoLibre, which accused Apple of imposing restrictive rules on the distribution of digital goods and in-app payments. CADE imposed preventive measures against Apple in 2024, and earlier this year its technical body recommended a ruling against the U.S. company, sending the case to the regulator’s internal panel.
MercadoLibre said it recognized CADE’s efforts to address competitive challenges related to iOS and Apple’s App Store in Brazil, but added that the agreement “only partially addresses the needs of more balanced rules.”
The settlement will remain in force for three years, starting once the new terms become mandatory for app developers. CADE said Apple has 105 days to implement the agreed changes. The regulator added that Apple could face penalties of up to 150 million reais ($27.09 million) if it breaches the agreement, and noted that Apple also agreed to withdraw a legal challenge it had filed against CADE’s 2024 preventive measures.
