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

[MacRumors]

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.

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​

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.

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

 

[k1121j]

Only where they have to. 🙄

 

[sw1tcher]

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.

Is this the same Apple that allowed these apps onto their App Store? Asking for a friend.

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[AppleTO]

So I guess they really are going to do this one region at a time… as required by law.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Dragged, kicking and screaming, one jurisdiction after another.

I hope the next CEO takes a different approach, as this one is all played out.

 

[Zenman12]

Well the App Store is fine with rampant insidious in-app purchases scams and game-gambling that has brought in regulators. I’m sure they’re really looking out for the consumers.

 

[Zenman12]

Dragged, kicking and screaming, one jurisdiction after another.

I hope the next CEO takes a different approach, as this one is all played out.

A CEO that resists and tries to circumvent regulators to gain more profit? You’d be better off hoping pigs can fly before you hope for this.

 

[tonmischa]

I feel the need to inform certain posters that Brazil is NOT part of the EU. 😛
Just looking out for your blood pressure! 😎

*i will show myself out now*

 

[mxsweb]

Somehow I agree with the principle of choice, but I already see the future:

I will try to stay as pure as possible and not even look at alternative App Store, until the day that one app I use is no longer on Apple's App Store and I need to get it through the Alt one... Imagine Microsoft and Google having their own App Store when these policies becomes global. It will be a nightmare. All to have their own piece of the pie.

It's working now, why breaking it? I think Apple should fight this more. Blocking the App Store in those countries could leverage the user base to protest for them. My 2 cents..

 

[Octavius8]

Don’t USA consumers want that also?
you still think that choice a bad idea?.

 

[attohs]

Don’t USA consumers want that also?
you still think that choice a bad idea?.

You have a choice of what phone to purchase.

 

[Octavius8]

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.

 

[I7guy]

Is this the same Apple that allowed these apps onto their App Store? Asking for a friend.

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I can't wait until the first alternative app store app is a scam app that does some damage and then I'll be like to all that throw the baby out with the bathwater people.

 

[mikethebigo]

When Steve Jobs used to talk about Apple’s “core values,” one I underappreciated at the time was stubbornness lol.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

It's amazing how Apple elected to fragment their own platforms like this. Greed really is all-consuming.

 

[sw1tcher]

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?

 

[canadianreader]

These mini app stores can’t really compete with F-Droid’s free and open source apps.

 

[switz]

Unfortunately, we, the end users, have no (expletive) way to determine which app on the Apple App store is the one waiting to steal our personal information for profit or just be a pain in the backside.

Best solution for major software used to be go to the maker of the product. But even that is no guarantee as one recent program update that came included seven infected files.

First line of defense is anti-virus software.

 

[roklanhavok]

Apple should allow alternative app stores with no security so people's phones get bricked and then just be like, "Welp, I guess alternative app stores is a bad idea. Nice try socialist regulators."

 

[UliBaer]

Lucky Brazilians then! 👍

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple should allow alternative app stores with no security so people's phones get bricked and then just be like, "Welp, I guess alternative app stores is a bad idea. Nice try socialist regulators."

... just like all those bricked Macs which have had alternatives to Apple's App Store since like forever.


.

 

[bmark]

Well the App Store is fine with rampant insidious in-app purchases scams and game-gambling that has brought in regulators. I’m sure they’re really looking out for the consumers.

Apple is looking out for themselves. If they were looking out for the consumer then iOS 26 would have never came out and there would be alternative app store access everywhere.

 

[turbineseaplane]

... just like all those bricked Macs which have had alternatives to Apple's App Store since like forever.


.

It's true. I'm unbricking my Mac right now.

I was in the shower and came back and poof!

Just like that ..
Mac bricked.

Scary world out there.

/s

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

You have a choice of what phone to purchase.

I don’t agree. For me I should be able to do whatever I want with my phone. Even modify its software, install whatever I want, resale it etc. Apple prevents me from doing it, they are violating my rights as a consumer.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

These mini app stores can’t really compete with F-Droid’s free and open source apps.

There's a shocking shortage of FOSS software for iPhone and iPad! I blame the developer fee - FOSS devs are already giving their time for free, but apple also wants $99 out of them for the privilege?