Apple is going to allow iPhone users in Brazil to pay for apps and services outside of the App Store itself, all to settle an investigation into supposed anti-competitive practices in the country.

Apple has had to deal with regulatory pressure to open up the iPhone to third-party app storefronts in a number of countries. Following an agreement with a regulator, it's doing the same in Brazil.

On Tuesday, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) in Brazil approved a cessation commitment term proposed by Apple, to put a stop to an investigation into anti-competitive practices. The deal, reported by Tecnoblog will last for three years, with Apple implementing changes under the agreement within 105 days.

Under the agreement, Apple must allow developers to promote alternative ways to make purchases, outside of the App Store itself. That also includes allowing for alternative app stores to be used in the country for distribution.

There is also a requirement to decouple Apple's payment processing service from the App Store, so others can be used within Apple's digital storefront. Alternative payment methods and external offers must be displayable alongside Apple's existing in-app payment system.

However, like in other regions, Apple will still be able to charge fees on transactions.

Pausing an investigation

The deal, which echoes similar moves in Europe and Japan, is made to try and end a regulatory investigation.

Stemming from a complaint made in late 2022, Apple was accused by firms including ecommerce platform MercadoLibre of potentially abusing its position as the owner of the App Store. This prompted CADE to open an investigation into Apple.

An investigation and a bad ruling later, an unreasonable implementation timeline was proposed and overturned by December 2024.

In March 2025, there was the threat of daily fines of more than $40,000 per day if Apple didn't enable sideloading. A week later, a Federal Civil Court ruled that Apple wouldn't be required to enable sideloading in Brazil.

In July, the regulator continued to urge for Apple to be fined over its lack of third-party App Store support, referring to it as "an infringement of the economic order."

At the time, Apple responded that the measures for various issues, including anti-steering prevention, posed privacy and security risks to users.