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Apple to Allow Alternative App Stores and More on iOS in Brazil by April

Due to regulatory action, Apple has agreed to allow alternative app stores, third-party payment systems for in-app purchases, and in-app links to external offers on iOS in Brazil, according to legal news website MLex and Brazilian blog Tecnoblog.

Apple App Store Awards 2025
This means that iPhone users in Brazil would gain access to options beyond Apple's App Store, such as the AltStore from Riley Testut and Shane Gill.

The changes must be implemented within 105 days, so Apple has until early April to roll them out. That timeframe might align with the release of iOS 26.4.

Apple has already allowed alternative app stores and/or third-party payment systems on iOS in the EU, Japan, and South Korea, and it will likely be forced to do so in the UK and Australia too, due to similar regulations across those regions.

altstore pal euAltStore

Apple has opposed alternative app stores due to privacy and security concerns.

"If you prefer using apps that have met all of Apple's App Review Guidelines, including Apple's standards for privacy, security, and quality, you can use the App Store," says Apple, in a support document about alternative app distribution.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

sw1tcher Avatar
21 weeks ago

Apple has opposed alternative app stores due to privacy and security concerns.

"If you prefer using apps that have met all of Apple's App Review Guidelines, including Apple's standards for privacy, security, and quality, you can use the App Store," says Apple, in a support document ('https://support.apple.com/en-us/117767') about alternative app distribution.
Is this the same Apple that allowed these apps onto their App Store? Asking for a friend.

https://www.macrumors.com/2021/03/30/bitcoin-scam-app-costs-iphone-user-life-savings/

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/02/pig-butchering-scam-apps-sneak-into-apples-app-store-and-google-play/

https://www.macrumors.com/2024/02/08/fake-lastpass-app-in-apple-app-store/

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/08/22/facebook-removing-onavo-from-ios-app-store/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/06/06/apple-app-store-scams-fraud/

https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/after-backlash-apple-removes-fake-threads-app-unethical-loan-apps-from-app-store/

https://www.macrumors.com/2022/02/21/indie-developer-scam-clone-app-store/

https://usa.kaspersky.com/blog/dangerous-apps-in-app-store/28975/

https://www.macrumors.com/2021/02/09/scam-apps-ios-making-millions-revenue/

https://www.macrumors.com/2022/09/26/ios-app-store-ad-fraud/

https://www.macrumors.com/2021/04/07/developer-highlights-scam-apps-iap/
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
21 weeks ago
Dragged, kicking and screaming, one jurisdiction after another.

I hope the next CEO takes a different approach, as this one is all played out.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleTO Avatar
21 weeks ago
So I guess they really are going to do this one region at a time… as required by law.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
21 weeks ago

You have a choice of what phone to purchase.
Let me see if I understand what you're trying to say...

Giving someone choices in what phones they can purchase is good.

But giving someone choices of where to get iOS apps is bad.

Is that right?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
21 weeks ago
I feel the need to inform certain posters that Brazil is NOT part of the EU. :p
Just looking out for your blood pressure! :cool:

*i will show myself out now*
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Octavius8 Avatar
21 weeks ago
Why so hard for everyone to respect other countries laws and regulations?.
If you want choice, dint install 3rd party stores.
For me, Apple is long due to opening NFC and allowing consumers to decide how to use our paid devices!. Apple is not our nanny.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)